Trial of Randomized Antibiotic Administration in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Kidney Stones
Sponsor: Northwell Health

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Trial of Randomized Antibiotic Administration in 
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy 
 
Bradley A. Morganstern, David Leavitt, Sammy E. Elsamra David Hoenig, Arthur D. 
Smith and Zeph Okeke 
Smith Institute for Urology, Northwell 
New Hyde Park, New York 
 
INTRODUCTION 
For large renal stone burdens and/or complex stones, Percutaneous 
Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has become the mainstay for treatment, replacing open kidney 
stone surgery since it’s introduction in 19761. However, PCNL is not without its 
complications, specifically infectious. The procedure carries up to 25% incidence of 
infectious complications with approximately 1% rate of severe sepsis even with 
completely sterile conditions2. Therefore, the use of antibiotics becomes paramount, but 
to date there are no PNCL specific guidelines for the appropriate duration and class of 
antibiotics. This fact leaves the practicing urologists to their own subjective experiences 
to the guide them. In addition, in an age where there are increasing numbers of resistant 
microbes the judicious use of antibiotics is in even more paramount3.  
 
General guidelines by the AUA recommend 24 hours of perioperative antibiotics 
with the first choice of class being 1st/2nd generation cephalosporins or aminoglycoside + 
metronidazole or clindamycin and the alternative for allergies being aminoglycoside/ 
sulbactam or fluoroquinolone4. The guidelines also include a clause for extended use of 
antibiotics if external urinary catheters are in place. Of note, only a few studies have been 
conducted that help to guide these recommendations and these were carried out with 
relatively small sample sizes. 
In 2002 Dogan et al reported, in a small prospective randomized study (n=81), no 
difference in infectious complications with the use of a single perioperative dose of 
ofloxacin versus continued use until the nephrostomy tube was removed5.  A 
retrospective match control study in 2012 reported the importance of perioperative 
antibiotics in reducing the fevers postoperatively (1.9% vs 22.0%, p <0.0001) in patients 

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who received them versus patients who did not (all patients had negative preoperative 
urine cultures)3. Another randomized prospective study (n=191) concluded no difference 
in the use of ampicillin-sulbactam versus cefuroxime with a single administration being 
sufficient6. The most recent randomized prospective study (n=73) published this year 
found no difference in septic complications with a single perioperative dose of 
ceftriaxone compared to the addition of continued oral 3rd generation cephalosporins2. 
Whereas these studies support the notation that 24 hours of antibiotics may be sufficient 
in low risk patients undergoing PCNL further, larger studies are needed to establish firm 
guidelines.  
We purpose a randomized intention to treat prospective study to explore the 
duration and type of antibiotics in a larger population then previously studied. We 
hypothesize that there will be no difference in complications between two groups: 1) 24 
hours of perioperative antibiotics versus 2) Continued antibiotics until the removal of any 
external catheters. We will model the antibiotics choices and duration after the 2013 
AUA Urologic Surgery Antimicrobial Prophylaxis recommendations, modified by our 
local antibiotogram as necessary. Our objective is to compare the clinical efficacy of a 
single-day protocol with a short-course protocol for PCNL. Our hope is to reduce the use 
of possibly unnecessary prolonged antibiotic administration, reduce hospital costs and 
prevent the further propagation of resistant microbes.   
 
Primary Objective: 
 
To compare the clinical efficacy of a single-dose protocol (antibiotics for 24 
hours) with a short-course protocol (antibiotics continued until external catheters are 
removed) for PCNL. 
 
 
Patient Recruitment and Randomization 
 
All patients meeting exclusion and inclusion criteria for the study, who require a 
PCNL for treatment of kidney stone disease will be approached for enrollment in the 

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study.  After informed discussion of the study with potential participants, interested 
patients will be given a copy of the consent form.  The consent form will be reviewed and 
explained with the potential study subject.  All information about the study will be 
provided. Ample time will be given for individuals to ask questions regarding 
participation and to have questions answered prior to signing the consent form.  If so 
desired, those interested will be given a copy of the consent form to take home so that 
they may have the opportunity to discuss participation further with family and/or advisors.  
If an individual chooses to enroll, the consent form will be signed before the procedure 
begins. Once an individual joins the study and informed consent is obtained, the subject 
will receive a signed copy of the consent form.  Individuals may chose not to be enrolled 
in the study or may withdraw from the study at any time without repercussions to 
subsequent care. 
All subjects of childbearing potential who are not surgically sterile will be given a 
urine pregnancy test during the screening exam.  
Patients agreeing to participate in the study will be randomized on the day of surgery. 
Stratified randomization will be utilized to balance the number of patients between the 
two groups. Subjects will be randomly assigned by a 1:1 ratio to either: 
1. Antibiotics for a period of 24 hours  
2. Antibiotics for a period until external catheters are removed  
The Biostatistics Unit will develop a randomization procedure using a permuted block 
design.  Details of the procedure, including required record keeping, will be further 
developed upon approval of this protocol. 
 
Inclusion criteria: 
 
1. Patients >18 years old. 
2. Negative urine culture within 1 month prior to procedure 

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3. Renal Calculi which would optimally require PCNL for treatment.  
 
Exclusion criteria: 
 
1. Patients <18 years old.  
2. Patients who are not able to give consent for study 
3. Patients currently on antibiotics immediately prior to the procedure 
4. Previous history of sepsis or SIRS from stone manipulations 
5. Foley catheter in place for greater than 1 week duration 
6. Patients under going planned, multi-staged procedures 
7. Immunosuppressed patients 
8. Pregnant women (urine HCG obtained at PST) 
9. Patients with more than one allergy to antibiotics  
10. Patients who are breastfeeding 
 
Intervention 
 
Antibiotics Regiment/External Catheter Procedure 
 
 
At our institution there has been no standardized utilization of administration of 
antibiotics and it has been at the discretion of the attending as to the duration. The typical 
low risk (as defined by inclusion and exclusion criteria) patient would start with 
perioperative antibiotics within 60 minutes prior to procedure and continued for a 
duration of 5-7 days. If no signs or symptoms of systemic inflammatory response 
syndrome (SIRS), as defined as two or more signs including temperature <36°C or 
>38°C, heart rate >90/min, respiratory rate >20min or PaCO2 <32mmHg, or white blood 
cell count <4000/mm3 or >12000/mm3, or sepsis occurred they may be continued longer. 

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The protocol would standardize the administration. In regards to the external catheters the 
usual routine would be continued with urethral foley catheter being removed post-
operative day one and the nephrostomy tube being removed post-operative day two if no 
signs of infection or ureteral obstruction occur (based on clinical signs of flank pain with 
clamp trial, CT, or nephrostogram).  
 
In accordance with AUA guidelines we use Ancef, a 1st generation cephalosporin, 
as the primary antibiotics. It would be started within 60 minutes of the procedure. Dosing 
would be 1 gram IV every 8 hours and would be adjusted for renal dosing as needed: 
creatinine clearance of 35-54 would be every 8hrs; 11-34 would give on time dose then 
decrease by 50% and administer every 12 hrs; <10 will give usual one time dose then 
decrease dose by 50% and administer every 24hrs; if on hemodialysis will supplement 1g 
at time of dialysis. If the patient has an allergy to penicillin or cephalosporin then Cipro 
would be used. It would started within 120 minutes of the procedure, as per AUA 
recommendations, at 400mg IV and would be continued every 12hrs if patient has a 
normal creatinine clearance. If the creatinine clearance is between 5-29 then the patient 
would receive 200mg IV every 18 hours and if on dialysis then the patient would get 
200mg IV 12 hours after dialysis. Regardless of which antibiotic that is used they would 
either be discontinued after 24 hours or continued until both external catheters are 
removed (using the usual timing defined above). If the SIRS or sepsis occurs then the 
patient would be treated according the clinical indicated or based on the presence of 
positive blood, urine cultures and the sensitivities. The patient would remain in the study 
as it is an intention to treat design. With this regiment confounders should be minimal as 
the majority of patients will be treated with Ancef and the point of antibiotics is 
preventative since the patients are deemed not infected at the started per exclusion 
criteria.  
 
Surgical procedure 
 
For patients undergoing PCNL, a temporary retrograde ureteral catheter will be 
placed with the patient in dorsal lithotomy or prone position (according to surgeon 
preference).   The distal end of the ureteral catheter will be connected to a syringe with 

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diluted contrast.  The patient’s initially approached in lithotomy are then repositioned 
into the prone position with all pressure points well padded, and then re-prepped and 
draped.  The collecting system is then delineated with a retrograde pyelogram via contrast 
instillation through the previously placed ureteral catheter.  The appropriate calyx of 
entry is the determined, targeted and punctured with an 18 or 21G diamond-tipped 
needle.  Once access to the collecting system is obtained a guide wire is threaded 
antegrade down the ureter.   The percutaneous tract is then dilated with Amplatz dilators 
or a radial balloon dilator.  The working sheath is secured in place over the dilator, and 
rigid nephroscopy is then commenced.  Stones are then removed if small enough, and are 
fragmented with a lithotripter and removed with a combination of suction and manual 
extraction.  Once all stones are removed, a kidney drain is placed under fluoroscopic 
guidance.  All PCNL procedures will be performed in the standard clinical manner by 
three fellowship-trained endourologists with high-volume stone practices (Zeph Okeke, 
David Hoenig and Arthur Smith).  
 
Follow-up 
All patients are seen in the office within 30 days post-operative or sooner if 
clinical indicated (signs of infection after discharge or needs removal of external 
catheter). Patients are instructed to contact the office if any symptoms of infection occur 
and will be treated either in an outpatient or inpatient setting as clinical warranted. The 
research team will carry periodic reviews of both inpatient and outpatient records to tract 
any complications that occur within 30 days of the procedure.  
Outcomes 
 
Primary Outcomes: 
 Postoperative infection 
 Infection-related events: 
o Fever 
o Bacteriuria 
o Bacteremia 
 

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Secondary Outcomes:  
1. ICU for hypotension postoperatively 
2. Length of stay (LOS) 
3. Need for additional lithotripter energy modalities 
4. Intraoperative complications 
5. Immediate postoperative complications 
6. Postoperative complications within 30 days of the procedure 
7. Stone cultures 
8. Operative time (duration of the surgical procedure, beginning with 
percutaneous access and ending with closure of the surgical track)  
9. Adverse and allergic reactions to antibiotics 
10. Incidence of clostridium difficile infection 
11. Evidence of Systemic Inflammatory Response Sydrome (SIRS) 
 
 
 
Sample Size Calculation 
 
The proposed sample size for this study is n=290 subjects (n=145 per group).   
 
As a non-inferiority trial, antibiotics for 24 hours will be considered non-inferior 
to antibiotics for continued antibiotics if the difference in the rate of fever is less than 5% 
(δ=margin of inferiority).  More formally, let p24 and pC be the rate of fever for 
antibiotics for 24 hours and antibiotics continued until catheters are removed, 
respectively.  The following are the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis: 
H0: 
d = p24 – pC ≥ δ vs.  
HA: 
d = p24 – pC < δ 
 
Based on estimates from Tuzel et al2., the rate of fever using 24 hours of 
antibiotics = 11% and the rate of fever using antibiotics until external catheters are 
removed = 16%, and assuming a non-inferiority margin of 5%, a target of 145 subjects 

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per group (n=290 in total) would yield 80% power to determine that 24 hours of 
antibiotics is not inferior to continued antibiotics, assuming a 1-sided α-level of 0.05.  
 
Data Analysis 
 
Intention to Treat (ITT):   
The primary analyses will be based on the ITT population.  The ITT population 
will be defined as any subject who is randomized, regardless of whether the subject 
completes the full course of antibiotics. 
 
Statistical Methods:  
Descriptive statistics (means ± standard deviations or medians and interquartile 
range [25th percentile, 75th percentile] for continuous data; frequencies and percentages 
for categorical data) will be calculated by group (antibiotics for 24 hours or antibiotics 
until external catheters are removed).   
 
The two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney test will be used to compare these two 
groups for continuous variables.  The chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as deemed 
appropriate, will be used to compare these two groups for categorical outcomes (i.e. 
fever, bacteriuria, bacteremia, etc.) 
 
LOS and operative time will be analyzed by applying standard methods of 
survival analysis, i.e., computing  the Kaplan-Meier product limit curves, where group 
will be the stratification variable.  [No data will be considered censored.]   The two 
groups will be compared using the log-rank test.  The median LOS / operative time and 
corresponding 95% confidence intervals for each group will be obtained from the 
Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Estimates. 
 
A result will be considered statistically significant at the p<0.05 level of 
significance.  All analyses will be performed using SAS version 9.3 (SAS Institute, Cary, 
NC).  

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Risks 
All patients will have the surgery regardless of whether or not they are part of the study 
and face the same risks associated with the surgery.  The AUA recommends using 
antibiotics and all patients undergoing this surgery will be put on an antibiotic as standard 
of care. This study is looking to compare the clinical efficacy of a single-day protocol 
with a short-course protocol for PCNL. Our hope is to reduce the use of possibly 
unnecessary prolonged antibiotic use, reduce hospital costs and prevent the further 
propagation of resistant microbes.  All serious adverse events and unanticipated problems 
will be reported in compliance with the NSLIJHS IRB policy. 
 
Some possible serious side effects from antibiotics may include: 
 diarrhea that is watery or bloody;  
 white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips; 
 skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; fever, 
swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms;  
 unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots 
under your skin;  
 urinating less than usual or not at all; 
 seizure (black-out or convulsions);  
 or severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, 
burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads 
(especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling. 
 Another type of infection named Clostridium difficile 
 
Less serious side effects may include: 
 
 pain, swelling, or a hard lump where the injection was given; 
 stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; 
 skin rash or itching; 
 rectal itching; or vaginal itching or discharge. 
 
These side effects are general for all patients who get antibiotics and are very rare. All 
patients will be monitored for potential side effects.  
 
Data and Safety Monitoring Plans 
 

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The principal investigator, Dr Zeph Okeke, is responsible for overall oversight of 
the data, monitoring the data, assuring protocol compliance, and conducting the safety 
reviews during quarterly meetings or more frequently if needed. Dr David LeavittBradley 
Morganstern will also be responsible for compiling the data sheets, day to day oversight 
of research and ensuring the integrity and privacy of the data. During the review process 
the principal investigator, along with the other investigators will evaluate whether the 
study should continue unchanged, require modification/amendment, or close to 
enrollment. The principal investigator or the Institutional Review Board (IRB) have the 
authority to stop or suspend the study or require modifications. 
This protocol presents minimal additional risks to the subjects outside of those 
traditionally associated with PCNL.  Adverse events or other problems are not 
anticipated. In the unlikely event that such events occur, serious and unanticipated and 
related adverse events or unanticipated problems involving risks to subjects or others will 
be reported in writing within 48 hours to the IRB and any appropriate funding and 
regulatory agencies. The investigator will apprise fellow investigators and study 
personnel of all adverse events that occur during the conduct of this research project via 
email as they are reviewed by the principal investigator and then discussed as a group 
during regular quarterly meetings. Data and safety concerns will be reviewed after 
every 20 patients and will include the research team and surgeons.  Outside of these 
scheduled meetings, safety concerns can be raised at anytime and by anyone.  
Serious adverse events will be reported to the IRB. 
The trial will not be registered at Clinicaltrials.gov as this is not an open trial, 
funded by a government agency, subject to FDA regulation (antibiotics are being 
used via approved guidelines), nor are the antibiotics being exported for research. 
This conclusion has been reached but exploring outline of FDAAA801 on provided 
by Clinicaltrials.gov.  
References: 
1. 
Fernstrom I, Johansson B. Percutaneous pyelolithotomy. A new extraction 
technique. Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology 1976;10:257-9 
2. 
Tuzel E, Aktepe O, Akdogan B. Prospective Comparative Study of Two 
Protocols of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy. Journal 
of Endourology 2013; 27: 172-176.  

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3. 
Gravas S, Montanari E, Geavlete P, Onal B, Skolarikos A, Pearle M, Sun Y, 
Rosette J. Postoperative Infection Rates in Low Risk Patients Undergoing 
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy With and Without Antibiotic Prophylaxis: A 
Matched Case Control Study. The Journal of Urology 2012; 188:843-847. 
4. 
American Urologic Assiociation’s Pocket Guide for Urologic Surgery 
Antimicrobial Prophylaxis May 15, 2013. 
5. 
Dogan H, Sahin A, Cetinkaya Y, Akdogan B, Ozden E, Kendi S. Antibiotic 
Prophylaxis in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Prospective Study in 81 
Patients. Journal of Endourology 2002; 16:649-653. 
6. 
Seyrek M, Binday M, Yuruk E, Akman T, Alson R, Yazici O, Berberoglu Y, 
Muslumanoglu A. Perioperative Prophylaxis for Percutaneous 
Nephrolithomy: Randomized Study Concerning the Drug and Dosage. Journal 
of Endourology 2012;11:1431-1436.