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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Establishment and Characterization of UTI and CAUTI in a Mouse Model
Published on: June 23, 2015
Antibiotic hydrogel coated Foley catheters for prevention of urinary tract infection in a rabbit model
J L Pugach1, V DiTizio, M W Mittelman
1Department of Botany, Centre for Infection and Biomaterial Research, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Purpose:
We developed an antibiotic liposome (ciprofloxacin liposome) containing hydrogel for external coating of silicone Foley catheters and evaluated its efficacy in a rabbit model. Our goal was to create a catheter that would hinder the development of catheter associated nosocomial urinary tract infections.
Materials And Methods:
We inserted either an untreated, liposomal hydrogel coated or a liposome hydrogel with ciprofloxacin coated 10F silicone Foley catheter into New Zealand White rabbits. We challenged the system with 5x10(6) virulent Escherichia coli at the urethral meatus twice daily for 3 days. Urine cultures were evaluated twice daily for 7 days. When urine cultures became positive, the rabbits were sacrificed and urine, urethral catheter and urethral tissue were cultured.
Results:
The time to bacteriuria detection in 50% of the specimens was double for hydrogel with ciprofloxacin coated catheters versus untreated and hydrogel coated catheters. A significant (p = 0.04) improvement in average time to positive urine culture from 3.5 to 5.3 days and a 30% decrease in the bacteriuria rate for hydrogel with ciprofloxacin coated catheters were noted compared to untreated catheters.
Conclusions:
A significant benefit was realized by coating the extraluminal catheter surface with a ciprofloxacin liposome impregnated hydrogel. We believe this procedure will provide a significant clinical advantage, while reducing health care costs substantially.
