title: Update on biofilm infections in the urinary tract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biofilm infections have a major role in implants or devices placed in the human body. As part of the endourological development, a great variety of foreign bodies have been designed, and with the increasing number of biomaterial devices used in urology, biofilm formation and device infection is an issue of growing importance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed in the Medline database regarding biofilm formation and the role of biofilms in urogenital infections using the following items in different combinations: "biofilm," "urinary tract infection," "bacteriuria," "catheter," "stent," and "encrustation." The studies were graded using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors present an update on the mechanism of biofilm formation in the urinary tract with special emphasis on the role of biofilms in lower and upper urinary tract infections, as well as on biofilm formation on foreign bodies, such as catheters, ureteral stents, stones, implants, and artificial urinary sphincters. The authors also summarize the different methods developed to prevent biofilm formation on urinary foreign bodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several different approaches are being investigated for preventing biofilm formation, and some promising results have been obtained. However, an ideal method has not been developed. Future researches have to aim at identifying effective mechanisms for controlling biofilm formation and to develop antimicrobial agents effective against bacteria in biofilms.
authors: Department of Urology, South-Pest Hospital, 1 Koves Str., 1204, Budapest, Hungary. tenke.peter@jahndelpest.hu
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Tenke
authors: Béla
authors: B
authors: Köves
authors: Károly
authors: K
authors: Nagy
authors: Scott J
authors: SJ
authors: Hultgren
authors: Werner
authors: W
authors: Mendling
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Wullt
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Grabe
authors: Florian M E
authors: FM
authors: Wagenlehner
authors: Mete
authors: M
authors: Cek
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Pickard
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Botto
authors: Kurt G
authors: KG
authors: Naber
authors: Truls E
authors: TE
authors: Bjerklund Johansen
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Feb 3;101(5):1333-8
references: 14739341
references: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006 Dec;50(12):4144-52
references: 16940055
references: J Antimicrob Chemother. 1994 May;33 Suppl A:31-41
references: 7928835
references: Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2010 Dec;46(4):473-9
references: 20445490
references: J Urol. 1987 Aug;138(2):423-6
references: 3298698
references: Spinal Cord. 2010 Nov;48(11):784-90
references: 20368711
references: Annu Rev Med. 2000;51:349-56
references: 10774469
references: J Urol. 2009 Sep;182(3):1194-200
references: 19625060
references: World J Urol. 1999 Dec;17(6):345-50
references: 10654364
references: FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2010 Aug;59(3):525-8
references: 20602639
references: Chemotherapy. 1997 Mar-Apr;43(2):137-41
references: 9084923
references: J Sex Med. 2004 Sep;1(2):215-20
references: 16429620
references: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2001 Apr;17(4):317-9; discussion 319-20
references: 11295415
references: J Endourol. 1995 Dec;9(6):469-72
references: 8775077
references: World J Urol. 2006 Feb;24(1):13-20
references: 16402262
references: J Urol. 2004 Jul;172(1):153-6
references: 15201759
references: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2002 Jun;19(6):507-10
references: 12135841
references: World J Urol. 2000 Sep;18(4):237-42
references: 11000305
references: Br J Urol. 1990 Jul;66(1):47-54
references: 2203502
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Sep 19;103(38):14170-5
references: 16968784
references: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD004013
references: 18425896
references: J Urol. 1992 Nov;148(5):1592-4
references: 1433574
references: Eur Urol. 2005 Dec;48(6):991-5
references: 16137822
references: PLoS Med. 2007 Dec;4(12):e329
references: 18092884
references: Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Nov;106(5 Pt 1):1013-23
references: 16260520
references: J Urol. 1995 Aug;154(2 Pt 1):387-90
references: 7609104
references: Br J Urol. 1987 Jan;59(1):21-30
references: 3828684
references: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009 Dec;53(12):5145-9
references: 19805562
references: J Urol. 2004 Apr;171(4):1611-4
references: 15017233
references: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jan;198(1):97.e1-6
references: 18005928
references: J Urol. 2006 Jun;175(6):2331-5
references: 16697868