title: Water consumption and urinary tract infections: an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To address to a better understanding of whether increased water consumption is associated with beneficial effects of urinary tract infections prophylaxis and treatment, and if so, the mechanism involved in this process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Models of the catheterized bladder were infected with Escherichia coli. Artificial urine was supplied at various flow rates and various concentrations to separately assess the "flushing effect" and "dilution effect" of increased water consumption on catheter blockage time, encrustation formation, and bacterial growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistical significances regarding catheter blockage time (P = 0.92), encrustation formation, and bacterial growth among bladder models supplied with various flow rates. When the flow rate was set as 1 ml/min, however, there showed significant decrease trend of the time to blockage (P = 0.0005), encrustation formation, and bacterial growth as the concentration of the artificial urine increased except the twofold-concentration urine group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased water consumption is associated with beneficial effects of urinary tract infection prophylaxis and treatment, and dilution effect of bacteria nutrition in the urine is at least partly involved in this process if not all, rather than the "flushing effect". Considering the flaws and the in vitro design of the current study, however, an in vivo study is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.|Department of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Field Hospital, Mari Petroleum Company Limited, District Ghotki, Daharki, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Romel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wazir
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. wangkj@scu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Kunjie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004326:Drinking; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D062885:Urinary Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Adjuvant therapy; Escherichia coli; Prophylaxis; Urinary tract infections; Water consumption