Catheter-associated urinary tract infections in patients who have undergone radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: A prospective randomized clinical study of two silicone catheters (clinical benefit of antibiotic silicone material)

Purpose: The prevalence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) varies from 5% to 8.2%, and the risk of infection increases by 5% to 7% per day of primary indwelling. We investigated whether a novel biofilm inhibitory mechanism using an inhibitory silicone urethral catheter (a coated Foley catheter) can reduce CAUTIs compared to conventional non-coated Foley catheters. Materials and Methods: This study prospectively analyzed the difference in the incidence of CAUTIs in patients who underwent radical cystectomy with an orthotopic neobladder for bladder cancer and received a coated or conventional non-coated catheter. Additionally, differences in bacterial colonization between the groups were analyzed using a catheter-tip bacterial culture test. Results: Eighty-five patients were randomized into the “coated Foley catheter” group (abbreviated as “case” group; 41 patients) and a control group (44 patients). The two groups were identical except for their surgical history. The incidence of CAUTIs 2 weeks after radical cystectomy was 21.95% (case) and 27.27% (control), with no significant difference between the two groups. However, when the catheter was removed 2 weeks after surgery, the catheter tip culture test revealed significant bacterial colonies in 25 (60.98%) and 38 (86.36%) patients in the case and control group, respectively. No catheter-related postoperative side effects were observed in either group. Conclusions: The incidence of CAUTIs in the two groups did not differ according to the catheter material. However, the catheter bacterial culture test showed that bacterial colonization was significantly suppressed on the Bi-Fi Free technology catheter, which comparatively inhibited biofilm formation.