Lubricant-infused urinary catheters prevent bacterial colonization in a rat model

Statement of Purpose: Bacterial colonization of urinary catheters is a major source of hospital acquired urinary tract infections (HAUTI) [1] and 34% of all infections associated with health care in the United States are due to catheter-associated urinary tract infections [2]. More recently, the new concept of immobilized lubricant layers has been introduced to surface engineering technology as a novel approach to resolve the major problem of non-specific adhesion [3]. These surfaces have shown promising results in preventing bacterial adhesion [4] and clot formation [5]. Applying this coating technique on urinary catheters and creating lubricant-infused urinary catheters (LIUC) could be highly beneficial and potentially lower catheter-associated urinary infection and minimize antimicrobial usage.