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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Aug;213(2):194.e1-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Apr 13.

Cranberry juice capsules and urinary tract infection after surgery: results of a randomized trial

Betsy Foxman  1 , Anna E W Cronenwett  2 , Cathie Spino  3 , Mitchell B Berger  4 , Daniel M Morgan  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cranberry juice capsules and urinary tract infection after surgery: results of a randomized trial

Betsy Foxman et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: The risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) among women undergoing elective gynecological surgery during which a catheter is placed is high: 10-64% following catheter removal. We conducted the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the therapeutic efficacy of cranberry juice capsules in preventing UTI after surgery.

Study design: We recruited patients from a single hospital between August 2011 and January 2013. Eligible participants were undergoing elective gynecological surgery that did not involve a fistula repair or vaginal mesh removal. One hundred sixty patients were randomized and received 2 cranberry juice capsules 2 times a day, equivalent to 2 8 ounce servings of cranberry juice, for 6 weeks after surgery or matching placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who experienced clinically diagnosed and treated UTI with or without positive urine culture. Kaplan-Meier plots and log rank tests compared the 2 treatment groups.

Results: The occurrence of UTI was significantly lower in the cranberry treatment group compared with the placebo group (15 of 80 [19%] vs 30 of 80 [38%]; odds ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.79; P = .008). After adjustment for known confounders, including the frequency of intermittent self-catheterization in the postoperative period, the protective effects of cranberry remained (odds ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.94). There were no treatment differences in the incidence of adverse events, including gastrointestinal upset (56% vs 61% for cranberry vs placebo).

Conclusion: Among women undergoing elective benign gynecological surgery involving urinary catheterization, the use of cranberry extract capsules during the postoperative period reduced the rate of UTI by half.

Keywords: catheter-associated urinary tract infection; clinical trial; cranberry extract.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. CONSORT flow diagram
Enrollment and exclusions, allocation to treatment, follow-up and reasons for loss.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Time to urinary tract infection by treatment group
Kaplan-Meier estimates and 95% Hall-Wellner confidence bands are provided by treatment group. The number at risk for UTI is shown on the horizontal axis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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