Effect of Therapy on Susceptibility to Urinary Tract Infection in Male Cats with Indwelling Urethral Catheters

Abstract

Indwelling urinary catheters with a closed urine collection system were maintained in 30 male cats for 3 days after induction of irritant cystitis. All cats received subcutaneous fluids during the 3 days the catheters were in place. The effects of four different treatment regimens on urinary tract infection rates, incidence of urethral obstruction, and development of urinary tract lesions over a 10-day period were compared with results in a nontreated group. Treatments were 1) amoxicillin for 5 days PO; 2) prednisolone for 5 days PO; 3) both amoxicillin and prednisolone for 5 days PO; and 4) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for 3 days intravesicularly. Euthanasia was done before the end of the 10-day experimental period if the cats had two bouts of urethral obstruction or if the cats became uremic for causes unrelated to urethral obstruction. Seven cats were euthanatized before the conclusion of the experiment. These cats had been treated with prednisolone, prednisolone and amoxicillin, or DMSO. All cats that received amoxicillin alone or no therapy survived the 10-day period. Mortality was due to repeated urethral obstruction or to uremia associated with pyelonephritis or papillitis. Urinary tract infection rate was similar in all groups. The group treated with prednisolone alone had the highest incidence of renal infection. Inflammatory lesions in the lower urinary tract were similar in all groups. In conclusion, persistent urinary tract infection often develops in cats with cystitis after indwelling urethral catheterization even when closed systems of urine drainage are used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Controversies in the management of feline urethral obstruction

“…It has traditionally been accepted that the incidence of bacterial infection in feline lower urinary tract disease is very low (<2%), though newer studies have suggested a higher incidence of bacteriuria, ranging from 12% to 40% ,. It has further been well documented that antimicrobials do not prevent development of catheter‐associated UTI in both dogs and cats . A recent prospective study, specifically in patients with feline UO, found 0 positive cultures at presentation, but 6/18 cats (33%) developed urinary tract infections while catheterized .…”

In Vitro Efficacy of a Polyhexamethylene Biguanide‐Impregnated Gauze Dressing Against Bacteria Found in Veterinary Patients

“…The most common infection sites in hospitalized veterinary patients are surgical wounds, followed closely by the urinary tract and blood stream 2,3 . Infection from ascending contamination can occur with placement of drains, transcortical pins, and intravenous (IV) and urinary catheters 4–7 . Infections developing in drain sites are often caused by multi‐resistant bacteria that may be more pathogenic than those initially contaminating the wounds 7…”

“…Microorganisms isolated from catheter tips are often Gram‐negative, with many strains resistant to penicillin and cephalexin 8,9,11 . Ascending infections also occur with indwelling urinary catheters, despite the use of sterile collection systems, and commonly develop 3–4 days after starting urethral catheterization 6,12,13 . Infections are not prevented by concurrent systemic antibiotic administration; in fact, use of these drugs may temporally increase resistance of bacteria 6,13 …”

Management of traumatic urethral rupture in 11 cats using primary alignment with a urethral catheter

“…These findings were in agreementwith the results seen by Barsantietal. (30) andLees et al (29) whoreported that the useofantibiotics,suchasamoxicillin andampicillin, while indwelling urinary catheters were in place, did not prevent urinary tract infection andcould leadtoinfection with antibioticresistant organisms. With afew exceptions, cats should not be treated with antibacterial drugswhileindwelling urinary catheters are in place.…”