Virulence traits and bacterial interactions within the complex microbial population in urinary double-J catheters

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Indwelling devices like double-J stents are crucial in urological surgery but pose a high risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Biofilm formation on these devices is a primary cause of complications and treatment challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize clinical bacterial isolates from double-J catheters.
• To investigate the pathogenic potential, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial resistance of these isolates.
• To understand the role of polymicrobial interactions in catheter-related infections.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and characterization of 27 bacterial strains from double-J catheters.
• Assessment of biofilm production and extracellular matrix synthesis.
• Multidrug resistance profiling.
• Mixed-culture experiments to evaluate interspecies interactions.

Main Results:

• Strong biofilm producers identified, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, with robust extracellular matrix synthesis.
• Multidrug resistance was prevalent in E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis.
• Bacillus species were found to enhance the biofilm formation of uropathogens in mixed cultures.

Conclusions:

• The polymicrobial nature of double-J catheter colonization is complex and critical for understanding biofilm-related infections.
• Underreported genera like Bacillus play a significant role and warrant greater attention in diagnostics and treatment strategies.
• Understanding bacterial interactions and survival mechanisms is key to developing new approaches for managing catheter-related infections.