title: Movement of pseudomonas aeruginosa along catheter surfaces. A mechanism in pathogenesis of catheter-associated infection.
abstract: The etiologic mechanism involved in the establishment of catheter-associated bacteriuria is suggested in this in vitro study of the movement of Pseudomonas aeruginosa along a catheter surface against a flowing artificial urine milieu in the presence and absence of antibiotics. Following a lag phase, during which a bacterial biofilm becomes firmly established at a site of contamination, the bacteria ascend the surface of the Foley catheters in a rapidly expanding coherent biofilm. The speed of the bacterial ascent is increased as a result of turbulence-associated planktonic saltatory bacterial movement within the urine column. Bacteriocidal concentrations of antibiotics in the urine can slow down the bacterial ascent, but they do not preclude it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Costerton
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014031:Tobramycin