Adhesion of lactobacilli to urinary catheters and diapers: effect of surface properties

Thirteen strains of lactobacilli were tested for their ability to adhere to commercial devices used in the urinary tract. Although it appeared that the most hydrophilic organisms adhered in highest numbers, there was no significant correlation between water contact angle and adhesiveness to catheters. Five organisms tested were found to be highly adherent to Huggies commercial diapers. Loss in hydrophobicity upon serial culture of Lactobacillus fermentum B-54 was not due to a proteinaceous S layer, although protein involvement per se cannot be ruled out. It was evident that, not only can members of the normal female urogenital flora adhere to commonly used commercial prostheses, but their ability to attach is related to hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic surface components.