A prospective controlled trial of the effectiveness of a cefoxitin-bonded nephrostomy catheter was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of an antibiotic bonded catheter in decreasing the infectious complications of percutaneous nephrostomy. The study concludes that bonding of the antibiotic cefoxitin to percutaneous nephrostomy catheters did not influence the incidence of bacteriuria or urinary tract infection. In addition, observations on the overall incidence of complications from percutaneous nephrostomy are made.