Cells and Materials
Abstract
The ability of uropathogens to adhere to catheters and subsequently colonize the urinary mucosa leads to urinary tract infections which afflict a large patient population. In vitro studies were carried out whereby Escherichia coli Hu734 (water contact angle 12 °) and Enterococcus faecalis (19°) were found to be highly adhesive to silicone latex urinary catheters. The addition of one of four Lactobacillus sp., with water contact angles ranging from 19-105 °, to the suspending fluid caused a 60-86% reduction in pathogen adhesion with a significant effect against E. coli, the organism most commonly found to infect the urinary tract. Lactobacilli were significantly effective at displacing uropathogens and preventing their adhesion. Hydrophobic lactobacilli (105 °) were particularly effective at preventing enterococci from adhering from the surface, while more hydrophilic lactobacilli (19-54 °) were most effective at displacing enterococci. The effective competition with four strains of lactobacilli was achieved even when they only comprised 0.1%-7% of the total organisms on the surfaces. These studies demonstrate the important role which the indigenous urethral flora could play in inhibiting the initial attachment of pathogens to catheter surfaces.
Recommended Citation
Reid, Gregor and Tieszer, Christina
(1993)
"Preferential Adhesion of Urethral Bacteria from a Mixed Population to a Urinary Catheter,"
Cells and Materials: Vol. 3:
No.
2, Article 9.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cellsandmaterials/vol3/iss2/9