European Urology Supplements, cilt.8, ss.228, 2009 (SCI Expanded İndekslerine Giren Dergi)
Antimicrobial activity evaluations of four different
types of urethral catheters
Aslan B.1, Serefoglu E.C.2, Cirak T.1, Acikgoz Z.C.3, Denkbas E.B.1
1Hacettepe University, Division of Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine, Ankara, Turkey, 2Ataturk
Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of 1st Urology, Ankara, Turkey, 3Ataturk Training and
Research Hospital, Dept. of Clinical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
Introduction & Objectives: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of four different types of
commercially available urethral catheters and determine their advantages in patients with urinary
tract infections.
Material & Methods: Four different types of 20 Fr commercially available urethral catheters
(Silicone, Silicolatex, Nitrofurazone coated, Silver nitrate coated) were cut into 1 cm pieces. Ten
catheter pieces from each type were incubated in physiological buffered saline including either
slime positive Staphylococcus aureus or slime negative Escherichia coli with 0.5 McFarland
turbidity. After 24 and 48 hours, 5 catheter pieces were washed with saline and vortexed for 2 min
in 1.5 ml of physiological saline. There were 100 μl of samples of vortexed material inoculated on
blood agar and colony numbers were assessed. Additionally, in vitro drug release of nitrofurazone
coated catheter was assessed in physiological buffer solution with pH: 7.4 at 37ºC.
Results: The mean colony numbers of Staphylococcus aureus at 24 hour were 850, 4200, 350
and 3400 for Silicone, Silicolatex, Nitrofurazone coated, Silver nitrate coated catheter pieces
respectively, whereas the mean colony numbers of Escherichia coli at 24 hour were 78500,
95000, 34000 and 35850 for them. At 48 hour, the mean colony numbers of Staphylococcus
aureus were 33350, 33350, 36700 and 41700; And the mean numbers of Escherichia coli were
100000, 96700, 31750 and 46700 for Silicone, Silicolatex, Nitrofurazone coated, Silver nitrate
coated catheter pieces, respectively (table 1). In the in vitro drug release studies of nitrofurazone
coated catheter it was found that almost all of nitrofurazone was released within the first 24 hours,
and this finding was correlated with the bacterial adherence results of those catheters.
Table 1. The mean colony numbers of S. Aureus and E. Coli at 24 and 48 hours