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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

An In Vitro Bladder Model of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
Published on: June 24, 2025
Microbial contamination of disinfectants used for intermittent self-catheterization
Harumasa Hakuno1, Mitutaka Yamamoto, Shigeharu Oie
1Department of Pharmacy, Yamaguchi Grand Medical Center, Hofu 747-8511, Japan. hakuno.harumasa@white.megaegg.ne.jp
Abstract:
We investigated the microbial contamination of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution used in catheter kits for intermittent self-catheterization. Of 20 samples examined, 12 (60.0%) were contaminated with 8.8 x 10(2)-3.1 x 10(6) colony-forming units (cfu)/mL. The contaminants were Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia cepacia, and Aeromonas spp. These results showed that 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution used for the lubrication/disinfection of catheters for self-catheterization is susceptible to contamination. Therefore, the lubricant/disinfectant for catheters for self-catheterization was changed from 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution to 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride, and microbial contamination of the latter in catheter kits for self-catheterization was reinvestigated. Of 42 samples, 5 (11.9%) were contaminated with 20-2.0 x 10(4) cfu/mL. However, the rate of contamination of 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride was significantly lower than that of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution (P<0.0001). The contaminant of 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride was Bacillus spp. in all contaminated samples. In this survey, neither contaminants of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution nor the contaminant of 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride were the causative microbial species of urinary tract infection.
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