Profiles of the bacterial community in short-term indwelling urinary catheters by duration of catheterization and subsequent urinary tract infection

Abstract

Objective: Urinary catheterization, even of short duration, increases risk of subsequent urinary tract infection (UTI). Whether the bacteria found on the surface of catheters placed for <3 days are associated with UTI risk is unknown. Methods:We screened the biofilms found on the extraluminal surface of 127 catheters placed for <3 days from women undergoing elective gynecologic surgery, using targeted qPCR and an untargeted 16SrRNA taxonomic screen.Results: Using qPCR, Enterococcus spp. were found on virtually all catheters and lactic acid bacteria in most catheters regardless of duration, but neither genus was associated with UTI development during follow-up. Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus were the most commonly identified genera in the taxonomic screen but were not associated with subsequent UTI. Although the most common cause of UTI following catheter removal was E. coli, detectable E. coli on the catheter surface was not associated with subsequent UTI.Conclusions: Our analysis does not suggest that the composition of the bacteria growing on the catheter surface of catheters placed for <3 days are the reservoir for subsequent UTI. Other aspects of catheter care are likely more important than preventing bacterial colonization of the catheter surface for preventing UTI following short term catheter placement.

Fibrinolytic-deficiencies predispose hosts to septicemia from a catheter-associated UTI

“…Enterococci’s ability to modulate the bladder environment to benefit itself and other pathogens may further explain why enterococci are described as a pioneer species on urinary catheter 23 . This supports several clinical studies that showed enterococci are early colonizers and persist during prolonged catheterization in monomicrobial or polymicrobial interactions 5 , 23 , 76 .…”

Fibrinolytic-deficiencies predispose hosts to septicemia from a catheter-associated UTI.

“…Enterococci’s ability to modulate the bladder environment to benefit itself and other pathogens may further explain why enterococci are described as a pioneer species on urinary catheter. This supports several clinical studies that showed enterococci are early colonizers and persist during prolonged catheterization in monomicrobial or polymicrobial interactions 5 , 23 , 67 .…”

“…Urinary catheterization is a common procedure to drain urine from patients' bladders due to chronic conditions or while in healthcare facilities, intensive care units, during surgical procedures and recovery [1][2][3] . Despite its benefits, catheter placement increases the risk of developing a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) [4][5][6][7] . CAUTIs are one of the most common nosocomial infections and often lead to septicemia with a 30% mortality 3,8 .…”

Bacterial colonization, species diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of indwelling urinary catheters from postpartum mothers attending a Tertiary Hospital in Eastern Uganda

“…Like in a study in Nepal, Escherichia coli was the most common organism but in contrast Klebsiella pneumonae was the second in that study [ 32 ]. The gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus 68(20.7%) was the most common followed by Enterococcus 58(18%); these findings were similar to study among women in elective gynaecologic surgery where Escherichia coli was the most common gram-negative, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus were the most common gram-positive for catheters placed < 3 days [ 33 ]. A comparative study done in Egypt reported findings in line with this study where there was a difference in the prevalence of uropathogens among patients with an indwelling urinary catheter and non-catheterized patients Enterococcus (11.7%) and Pseudomonas spps (6.7%) being more common in CAUTI [ 34 ].…”