INTRODUCTION: Most studies related to healthcare-associated infection with Acinetobacter baumannii (HAIA) are on acutely ventilated patients. Little is known regarding the incidence and outcomes of HAIA in chronically ventilated patients.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors and etiology of nosocomial infections (NIs) in the intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital in order to improve our infection control policies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether catheter-associated urinary tract infections are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine device-associated infection (DAI) rates, and the microbiological and antibiotic resistance profiles of infecting pathogens in our hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether intermittent catheterization (IC) with a hydrophilic-coated catheter delays the onset of the first symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) and reduces the number of symptomatic UTIs in patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) compared with IC with standard, uncoated catheters.

DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial.

SETTING: Fifteen North American SCI centers. Participants were followed up while in the hospital or rehabilitation unit (institutional period) and up to 3 months after institutional discharge (community period). The maximal study period was 6 months.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 224 subjects with traumatic SCI of less than 3 months' duration who use IC.

METHODS: The participants were randomized within 10 days of starting IC to either single-use hydrophilic-coated (SpeediCath) or polyvinyl chloride uncoated (Conveen) catheters.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The time from the first catheterization to the first antibiotic-treated symptomatic UTI was measured as well as the total number of symptomatic UTIs during the study period.

RESULTS: The time to the first antibiotic-treated symptomatic UTI was significantly delayed in the hydrophilic-coated catheter group compared with the uncoated catheter group. The delay corresponded to a 33% decrease in the daily risk of developing the first symptomatic UTI among participants who used the hydrophilic-coated catheter. In the institutional period, the incidence of antibiotic-treated symptomatic UTIs was reduced by 21% (P < .05) in the hydrophilic-coated catheter group.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of a hydrophilic-coated catheter for IC is associated with a delay in the onset of the first antibiotic-treated symptomatic UTI and with a reduction in the incidence of symptomatic UTI in patients with acute SCI during the acute inpatient rehabilitation. Using a hydrophilic-coated catheter could minimize UTI-related complications, treatment costs, and rehabilitation delays in this group of patients, and reduce the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Comment in:
Author response to commentary. [PM R. 2011] Commentary to "Intermittent catheterization with a hydrophilic-coated catheter delays the occurrence of urinary tract infection in patients with acute spinal cord injury: a prospective, randomized, parallel, multicenter trial". [PM R. 2011]

Written by:
Cardenas DD, Moore KN, Dannels-McClure A, Scelza WM, Graves DE, Brooks M, Busch AK Are you the author?
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.

Reference: PM R. 2011 May;3(5):408-17.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.01.001

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21570027

INTRODUCTION: Urologic complications are an important cause of morbidity in kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections.

PURPOSE: We assessed surgical outcomes for patients intolerant of catheters with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis undergoing urinary diversion/reconstruction for refractory urinary symptoms.

[Article in French]

The candiduria are frequently encountered in urology. We present the recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Committee of the French Association of Urology for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of urinary tract infections.

The aim of this study was to investigate of the efficacy and reliability of a novel antimicrobial hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticle coating of urethral catheters, in the prophylaxis of biofilm formation and bacteriuria in rabbits.

Nursing home residents are a population at risk for carrying meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The aim of this study was to investigate whether surveillance of symptomatic catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in intensive care units (ICUs) leads to reduced CAUTI rates.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to compare the incidence of catheter-associated bacteriuria with a noble metal alloy-coated latex catheter or a non-coated silicone catheter in patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery with short-term catheterization.

[Article in Spanish]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, etiology and risk factors of nosocomial urinary tract infections (nUTI) in a second level Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

PURPOSE: We defined the incidence and health outcomes related impact of noninfectious urethral catheter related complications for the 7 surgical procedures monitored by the Joint Commission as part of the Surgical Care Improvement Project.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to determine whether there was enough evidence to conclude that silver-alloy urinary catheters reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections compared with silicone or latex urinary catheters in adult inpatients.

[Article in Spanish]

OBJECTIVE: To assess if the systematic use of double J ureteral catheters in ureteroneocystostomies of kidney transplants reduces the rate of complications.

Purpose: 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.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based practice (EBP) models provide a framework to guide organizations and their clinicians to implement evidence-based policies, protocols, and guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to examine antibiotic resistance rates and to determine appropriate empiric oral antibiotic for patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) evaluated and discharged from the ED.