[Detection of antibody-coated bacteria and cylinders in urinary sediment from patients with indwelling catheters]

In 34 patients without pre-existing infection of the urinary tract mostly a few days after insertion of an indwelling catheter a bacteriuria with 10(5) germs per ml urine developed. In 24 patients from the moment of the first proof of bacteriuria up to the removal of the catheter 1 to 10 days passed away. During this time in 6 patients a cylindruria, in no case, however, an antibody-coat of the bacteria could be established. In 10 patients who carried the catheter for a longer time, the excretion of antibody-coated germs in the urine began 11 to 18 days after the first proof of bacteriuria. A cylindruria was observed in 9 of these patients. Altogether the proof of cylinders in the early phase of the renal infection was more sensitive than that of antibody-coated bacteria in the urine. The probability of a provable participation of the kidneys in catheter-conditioned infections of the urinary tract consequently increases with increasing period of indwelling of the catheter.