Colicins prevent colonization of urinary catheters.
OBJECTIVE
Natural microbial defence systems, such as bacteriocins, may be a novel means to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection. We investigated in vitro whether a colicin-expressing strain of Escherichia coli could prevent urinary catheter colonization by a colicin-susceptible, uropathgenic strain of E. coli.


METHODS
Segments of urinary catheter were inoculated with colicin-producing E. coli K-12 and then exposed to either colicin-susceptible E. coli (a uropathogenic clinical isolate) or colicin-resistant E. coli (derived from the susceptible clinical isolate). Catheters were then incubated overnight, rinsed and sonicated.


RESULTS
The presence of colicin-producing E. coli K-12 on the catheter surface completely prevented catheter colonization by colicin-susceptible E. coli but not by resistant E. coli. The colicin-susceptible strain but not the colicin-resistant strain also disappeared from broth cultures in the presence of colicin-producing E. coli K-12.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed inhibition of catheter colonization by the uropathogenic clinical isolate of E. coli can be attributed to the presence of a colicin-producing strain of E. coli on the catheter surface. Bacteriocin production by a non-pathogenic organism may have clinical applicability as a means to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection.
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. trautner@bcm.tmc.edu
Barbara W
BW
Trautner
Richard A
RA
Hull
Rabih O
RO
Darouiche
D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D003087:Colicins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048168:Escherichia coli K12 / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D003087:Colicins