Catheter-associated urinary tract infections and prevention by bacterial interference: a review

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common nosocomial infections, accounting for 40% of all nosocomial infections. As much as 80% of these infections are associated with the use of urinary catheters. The risk of developing catheter-associated UTI increases with each day of catheterization. The pathogenesis of catheter-associated UTI is related to susceptibility of inert catheter material to microbial colonization. Once firmly attached on the catheter surface or the uroepithelium, bacteria begin to change phenotypically, moving into the sessile, biofilm mode of growth. Bacterial interference or using nonpathogenic bacteria to prevent symptomatic infection may offer a solution to the problem of recurrent UTI in chronically catheterized individuals.