Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40788469›Full record

Trial reportInternational urology and nephrology2026

Efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine vs. probiotics in in-vivo biofilm prevention on ureteral stents: a prospective randomized controlled pilot in vivo study.

Iqbal Singh, Himanshu Agrawal, Shailender Maurya, Himanshu Tanwar, Sanjay Gupta, N P Singh

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in International urology and nephrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
  2. Imagining the future: the five "Laws" of endourethroplasty.International urology and nephrology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Iqbal SinghDepartment of Surgery (Urology), University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) & GTB Hospital, Delhi-95, India. iqbalsinghp@yahoo.co.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8743-3404
Himanshu AgrawalDepartment of Surgery, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi-95, India.
Shailender MauryaDepartment of Surgery, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi-95, India.
Himanshu TanwarDepartment of Surgery, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi-95, India.
Sanjay GuptaDepartment of Surgery, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi-95, India.
N P SinghDepartment of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and GTB Hospital, Delhi-95, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) vs. probiotics in preventing biofilm formation on ureteral stents in selected patients. Ureteral stents are essential for managing urinary obstructions and renal stones and are prone to complications such as biofilm formation, which can lead to infections and stent malfunction. NAC is known for its mucolytic and antimicrobial properties, has shown potential in preventing biofilm formation on ureteral stents; however, clinical evidence is limited.

methodsThis prospective, open-label, randomized controlled experimental study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital between October 2022 and March 2024. Sixty patients undergoing ureteral stent placement were randomized to receive NAC (600 mg twice daily) in Group I vs. probiotics (containing Streptococcus faecalis, Clostridium butyricum, Bacillus mesentericus, and Lactic Acid Bacillus) in Group II for 5 weeks. Primary outcomes included routine urine microscopy, culture, stent culture, and biofilm detection on the stent surfaces.

resultsGroup I showed significantly reduced (pyuria, positive urine cultures, and biofilm formation on stents) to group II. Biofilm was absent in group I but was detected in 6.7% of group II. No significant treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs) were observed in either group.

conclusionNAC demonstrated a strong potential in preventing biofilm formation on ureteral stents, which correlated with improved outcomes in terms of reduced stent-associated bacterial growth, bacteriuria, and pyuria. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings and assess the precise utility and long-term safety of NAC in clinical settings for ureteral stenting and UTIs. DRUG TRIAL REGISTRY: TCTR20250511001 dt 11th May '2025, https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20250511001.

Indexed as

AcetylcysteineBiofilmsProbioticsStentsUreterAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAcetylcysteineBiofilm formationN-acetylcysteinePyuriaUreteral stentsUrinary tract infections

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.