Biofilms and catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Catheter-related urinary tract infections (UTI) are common, costly, and morbid and affect several different populations including hospitalized patients, residents of extended care facilities, and persons with injured spinal cords. Biofilm, a collection of microbial organisms on a surface surrounded by an extracellular matrix made up of primarily polysaccharide materials, readily develops on both the internal and external surface of the urinary catheter. Biofilm presence has important implications for antimicrobial resistance and for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of catheter-related UTI. In addition to discussing the pathogenesis of catheter-related UTI, the authors provide an overview of the risk factors, microbiology, clinical manifestations, management, and prevention of catheter-related infection.