Risk Factors and Clinical Implications of Double-J Ureteral Stent Bacterial Colonization: A Prospective Cohort Study

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing temporary Double-J ureteral stent insertion. * Stent inserted for a standard urological indication, including ureteric stone disease, ureteral obstruction, postoperative drainage, or ureteral injury repair. * Planned stent removal during the study follow-up period. * Availability for clinical follow-up and specimen collection at insertion and removal. * Provision of written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Active urosepsis at the time of stent insertion. * Permanent or intended long-term stenting outside the study framework. * Concomitant nephrostomy tube or urinary diversion that may confound microbiological results. * Known severe immunosuppression or neutropenia if expected to substantially alter colonization risk. * Patients with incomplete baseline clinical data. * Patients lost to follow-up or whose stent could not be retrieved for microbiological analysis. * Refusal to participate.