To Wipe or Not To Wipe?: That Is The Question

The primary aim of this study is to determine whether using a perineal cleansing wipe decreases the rate of a contaminated midstream clean catch sample in female patients with a symptomatic UTI.

This is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing the use of a perineal cleansing wipe versus no wipe in adult female patients who present to the urology clinic at IRL or 3RC with a symptomatic UTI.

Following IRB approval, patients who are eligible for the study (female patients >18 years of age with active UTI symptoms) will be asked to participate in the study. After obtaining informed consent, participants will be randomized using a validated web-based randomization tool. Patients who are randomized to receive a wipe will receive verbal and printed/visual instructions to take with them for sample collection.

Patients who are asymptomatic, have an indwelling catheter, SPT, stent, nephrostomy tube, perform CIC, are on daily antibiotic prophylaxis, or already on existing antibiotics will be excluded.

The study will be open for approximately 1 year to enroll participants.

The following data will be collected via chart review and entered into a REDCap database: age, BMI, UTI symptoms (urgency, frequency, urgency urinary incontinence increased from baseline symptoms, dysuria, fevers, flank pain, suprapubic pain/pressure, low back pain, cloudy urine, malodorous urine), urinalysis and microscopy data (if ordered), final culture result including contamination type (multiple organisms, skin flora, urogenital flora, group B streptococcus, lactobacillus), antibiotic treatment.

Sample size calculations were performed based on an expected 60% contamination rate for the no wipe group. If an anticipated maximum contamination rate of 50% for the wipe group, that provides a 10% between-group difference. For an N=600, even allocation provides 300 patients per group. There would be 69.3% power when testing for a between-group difference at alpha = 0.05.

Demographics of the patients will be assessed via summary statistics. Comparisons between the demographics of the two groups will be made using Fisher's Exact or chi squared tests for categorical variables and using T-test or Wilcoxon rank sum tests for continuous variables, where appropriate. Primary outcomes will also be compared using treatment-stratified summary statistics, and p-values obtained using the aforementioned statistical tests.

Inclusion criteria

• adult female patients >18 who present to the urology clinic at IRL or 3RC with a symptomatic UTI: symptoms include urgency, frequency, urgency urinary incontinence increased from baseline symptoms, dysuria, fevers, flank pain, suprapubic pain/pressure, low back pain, cloudy urine, malodorous urine

Exclusion criteria

• patients who are asymptomatic, have an indwelling catheter, SPT, stent, nephrostomy tube, perform CIC, are on daily antibiotic prophylaxis, or already on existing antibiotics