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Some observations on the migration of Proteus mirabilis and other urinary tract pathogens over foley catheters

Gareth J Williams1, David J Stickler

  • 1Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|April 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Uropathogenic bacteria can move on Foley catheters. While both Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed motility, only P. mirabilis migration was stopped by antimicrobial-impregnated catheters.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Biomaterials Science
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a significant healthcare concern.
  • Uropathogen motility on medical device surfaces contributes to infection.
  • Silicone Foley catheters are commonly used but can be colonized by bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the surface migration of uropathogens on silicone Foley catheters.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial-impregnated catheters against bacterial surface motility.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing the motility of Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on silicone Foley catheters.
  • Comparing migration on untreated, triclosan-impregnated, and nitrofurazone-impregnated catheters.

Main Results:

  • Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrated significant motility on external catheter surfaces.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa migrated effectively on both triclosan- and nitrofurazone-impregnated catheters.
  • Triclosan and nitrofurazone successfully inhibited the surface migration of Proteus mirabilis.

Conclusions:

  • Uropathogen surface migration on Foley catheters is a key factor in CAUTI pathogenesis.
  • Antimicrobial impregnation shows differential efficacy in preventing bacterial migration.
  • Further research is needed to develop broadly effective anti-motility catheter coatings.

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