A catheter-associated urinary tract infection mouse model to study bladder dysfunction and pain

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Microbiology
• Pain Research

Background:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs), cause bladder pain and dysfunction.
• Mechanisms of chronic UTIs and bladder pain are not well understood.
• Limited translational mouse models exist for studying CAUTIs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a female mouse model for suprapubic CAUTI.
• To longitudinally assess bladder function, pain, inflammation, and bacterial colonization in this model.
• To investigate the role of catheter biofilm in CAUTI pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Developed a female mouse suprapubic CAUTI model using bioluminescent UPEC.
• Employed in vivo/ex vivo imaging, behavioral assays, and void spot assays.
• Compared CAUTI mice with sham-operated, catheter-only, and transurethral infection groups.

Main Results:

• CAUTI mice exhibited sustained infection (>2 weeks) with catheter biofilm formation.
• CAUTI mice showed increased suprapubic sensitivity, responsive to antibiotics.
• Both CAUTI and catheter-only mice had reduced bladder capacity, but only CAUTI mice had impaired voiding efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The developed mouse model accurately reflects clinical CAUTI symptoms.
• Sustained catheter colonization and biofilm directly cause bladder hypersensitivity and dysfunction.
• This model can advance research into therapies for CAUTI, biofilm disruption, and bladder pain/dysfunction.