Randomized multi-centre trial of the effects of a catheter coated with hydrogel and silver salts on the incidence of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections

Catheters coated with hydrogel and silver salts have been proposed to prevent hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTI). We carried out a randomized, prospective, double-blind multi-centre trial to compare those catheters with classical urinary tract catheters. We included in the study 199 patients requiring urethral catheterization for more than three days: 109 in group 1 (classical catheter) and 90 in group 2 (catheter coated with hydrogel and silver salts). Urine from the patients was tested for 10 days after the insertion of the catheter (reactive dipsticks each day and diagnostic urinalysis every two days). The UTI associated with catheterization was defined on the basis of bacterial and cytological criteria ( > 10(5) cfu bacteria per mL and > 10 leucocytes per mm(3)). Twenty-two UTIs were recorded: 13 in group 1 and nine in group 2. The cumulative incidence of UTI associated with catheterization was 11.1% overall, 11.9% for group 1 and 10% for group 2; the odds ratio was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.30 to 2.20); the cumulative incidence for UTI, calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 36.3 overall, 35.2 in group 1 and 36.0 in group 2; the overall incidence density was 19 per thousand days of catheterization, 21 in group 1 and 18 in group 2. The differences between the two groups were not significant. Overall, we feel that there is not enough evidence to conclude that catheters coated with silver salts and hydrogel give greater protection than classical catheters and to recommend widespread use. (C) 2000 The Hospital Infection Society.