Biofilm reduction potential of 0.02% polyhexanide irrigation solution in several types of urethral catheters

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Microbiology
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Long-term urinary catheter use increases risks of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter blockage.
• Microbial biofilms are a primary cause of catheter blockage, reducing device lifespan and increasing UTI morbidity.
• A 0.02% polyhexanide irrigation solution is being investigated for its potential in bacterial decolonization and biofilm prevention in urethral catheters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a 0.02% polyhexanide solution in reducing and preventing bacterial biofilm formation on urinary catheters.
• To compare the effectiveness of polyhexanide irrigation against standard saline irrigation and no intervention.

Main Methods:

• In vitro assays were conducted using standard catheter types artificially contaminated with clinically relevant bacteria.
• Biofilm reduction and prevention potential of 0.02% polyhexanide solution were assessed.
• Microbial plate counts and membrane filtration were used to measure decolonization efficiency.

Main Results:

• The 0.02% polyhexanide solution demonstrated significant effectiveness in decolonizing various transurethral catheters.
• Polyhexanide irrigation showed a statistically significant reduction in bacterial biofilm compared to 0.9% saline (p=0.002) and no treatment (p=0.011).
• No significant difference was observed between saline irrigation and no treatment (p=0.74).

Conclusions:

• The 0.02% polyhexanide solution effectively reduces bacterial biofilm on artificially contaminated urinary catheters in vitro.
• This solution reduced the viability of biofilms on diverse catheter materials including silicone, latex-free silicone, hydrogel-coated silicone, and PVC.
• Further clinical studies are needed to assess the long-term tolerability and efficacy of polyhexanide in practice.