Korean J Urol.  2002 Nov;43(11):980-986.

Norfloxacin Hydrogel Coated Urethral Catheters for Prevention of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection in the Rabbit

• Kim DI
• Lee SJ
• Cho YH

Abstract

PURPOSE: We developed a norfloxacin hydrogel coated urethral catheters, and evaluated its efficacy in a rabbit model. Our goal was to create a catheter that would prevent the development of catheter associated nosocomial urinary tract infections.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We inserted either an untreated, a polyurethane hydrogel coated or a polyurethane hydrogel with norfloxacin coated 8Fr Foley, catheter into the bladders of New Zealand White rabbits. Urine cultures were examined daily for 7 days. Scanning electron microscopy of the catheter surface was performed to structurally analyze the biofilm.
RESULTS
There was a significant improvement (p=0.002) in the average time to a positive urine culture, from 3.1 to 5.7 days, and the rate of bacteriuria of the norfloxacin coated catheters was 70% lower than that of the untreated catheters. Scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of a bacterial biofilm on the surface of the untreated catheters, but deterioration of the biofilm was visible throughout the norfloxacin hydrogel coated catheters.
CONCLUSIONS
A significant benefit was realized by coating the catheter surface with a norfloxacin impregnated hydrogel. This in vivo study suggests that this procedure may provide a significant clinical advantage, and reduce health care costs, for nosocomial infections.

Keyword

Urinary tract infections; Urinary catheterization; Norfloxacin; Rabbits

MeSH Terms

Bacteriuria
Biofilms
Catheters*
Cross Infection
Health Care Costs
Hydrogel*
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Norfloxacin*
Polyurethanes
Rabbits
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Catheterization
Urinary Catheters*
Urinary Tract Infections*
Urinary Tract*
Hydrogel
Norfloxacin
Polyurethanes