title: Evaluation of urinary catheters coated with sustained-release varnish of chlorhexidine in mitigating biofilm formation on urinary catheters in dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biofilm formation occurs commonly on urinary catheters.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of urinary catheters coated with sustained-release varnish of chlorhexidine in decreasing catheter-associated biofilm formation in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty client-owned dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study. Thirteen dogs were catheterized with urinary catheters coated with sustained-release varnish of chlorhexidine (study group), and 13 dogs were catheterized with an untreated urinary catheter (control group). Presence and intensity of biofilm formation on the urinary catheters were assessed and compared between the groups by evaluating colony-forming units (CFU) of biofilm bacteria, and semiquantitatively, using confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the dogs experienced adverse effects associated with the presence of the urinary catheters. Median CFU count of biofilm bacteria at all portions of the urinary catheter was significantly (P < .001) lower in the study compared with the control group. The degree of biofilm formation on the urinary catheters, as evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy, was significantly lower in the study compared with the control group. Electron microscopy examination identified crystals on some of the urinary catheters. The proportion of catheters on which crystals were observed was significantly lower on the distal part of the urinary catheter in the study group compared with the control group (16.7% versus 66.7%, respectively; P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlorhexidine sustained-release varnish-coated urinary catheters effectively decrease urinary catheter-associated biofilm formation in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. gsegev@agri.huji.ac.il
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bankirer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duvdevani
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Shapur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lavy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062885:Urinary Catheters / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D002710:Chlorhexidine