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An In Vitro Bladder Model of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
Published on: June 24, 2025
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Pathogen displacement during intermittent catheter insertion: a novel in vitro urethra model
Y J Cortese1,2, V E Wagner3, M Tierney4
1Materials Research Institute, Athlone Institute of Technology, Athlone, Ireland.
Journal of Applied Microbiology
|November 30, 2019
Summary
Catheter insertion can move bacteria, potentially causing urinary tract infections. A new in vitro model confirmed this risk with standard catheters but not a prototype, aiding urological device development.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Microbiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a significant healthcare concern.
- Understanding bacterial displacement during catheterization is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel in vitro urethra model.
- To determine if intermittent urinary catheter (IC) insertion displaces bacteria from the urethral meatus.
Main Methods:
- A novel in vitro urethra model using chromogenic agar was developed.
- Bacteria were inoculated at the artificial urethral meatus, followed by IC insertion.
- Three types of ICs were tested to validate the model.
Main Results:
- Uncoated and hydrophilic coated catheters significantly displaced bacteria (P ≤ 0.001 and P ≤ 0.009, respectively).
- A prototype catheter showed no significant bacterial displacement (P ≥ 0.423).
- The model demonstrated reliability and reproducibility (P ≥ 0.265).
Conclusions:
- Single intermittent urinary catheter insertion can initiate catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
- The developed in vitro model is a valuable tool for urological healthcare research and technology validation.
