title: Decreased urethral mucosal damage and delayed bacterial colonization during short-term urethral catheterization using a novel trefoil urethral catheter profile in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy of a novel catheter with a trefoil profile to decrease urothelial irritation and delay catheter associated urinary tract infections by comparing it with a conventional catheter in the rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A novel catheter was made of medical silicone with a trefoil profile design. A total of 66 male New Zealand White rabbits were anesthetized and equally randomized into a control or a novel trefoil profile catheter group. Of the animals 10 per group were sacrificed at days 2, 4 and 8 of catheterization, respectively. Urine samples were cultured and urethral tissues were histopathologically evaluated. The remaining 6 rabbits were selected for urethral endoscopic assessment at day 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 days of catheterization the novel trefoil catheter profile decreased the rate of bacteriuria, defined as less than 100 cfu/ml, in 3 rabbits with a novel catheter vs that in 8 with a control catheter (p <0.05). Histopathological assessment revealed minor differences in staining in the short term. Endoscopic assessment showed more obvious mucosal inflammatory changes in 2 of the 3 controls than in the 3 rabbits with a novel catheter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrate that the novel catheter harbors a property of decreasing urothelial irritation and delaying catheter associated urinary tract infection. This advantage over conventional catheters makes it a potential alternative for short-term catheterization. Clinical trials are forthcoming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. sunyh@medmail.com.cn
authors.forename: Yinghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qinsong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhensheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chuanliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiangnan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000517:prevention & control; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D014521:Urethra / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*