Effect of catheterization on prevalence of urinary infections

Urinary tract infection is one of the most important nosocomial infections that is often caused by catheterization. Europathogenic bacteria can potentially cause urinary tract infections by forming biofilms in catheters. The aim of present study was to investigate the formation of Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm from catheter-associated urinary tract infection. The study was performed on 110 urine samples of patients who referred to the clinical laboratory of Milad Hospital, Tehran. Patients were divided into two groups with catheter-associated and non-catheter- associated urinary tract infections. Isolation and identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae were performed by biochemical tests and biofilm formation by plate microtiter method. 70 and 40 samples were related to catheter- associated and non-catheter- associated infections, respectively. 60% of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from associated with urinary tract infections due to catheterization were strong biofilm, 26.7% moderate and 13.3% weak. 33.3% of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates associated with urinary tract infection without catheter formed strong biofilm, 36.6% moderate and 23.3% weak biofilm and 2 isolates did not form any biofilm. The use of catheters in hospitalized patients increases the risk of urinary tract infections, which depends on various factors such as the duration of catheterization, type of catheter, and ability to form a biofilm of uropathogenic bacteria. The power of bacterial biofilm formation during catheterization increases the risk of infection and leads to antibiotic resistance of isolates and lack of proper treatment of patients.