BACTERIA ATTENUATING URINARY CATHETER

Abstract

A urinary tract infection is an infection which involves some part of the urinary system. Approximately, 75% of urinary tract infections are catheter associated. Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) can affect the patient and the hospital many p many problems, cost and health risks, respectively. Insurance companies tend to perpetuate this issue and not cover CAUTI which will make the hospital responsible for this cost which is on average, $13,793 to treat a patient (Agency for Healthcare Research Quality). Silver and antibacterial coated catheters, which are available in the market, are there for addressing CAUTI, but the bacteria present will become resistant to such methods over time, causing CAUTI to still be an issue. CAUTI is caused by a group of different bacteria but the most prevalent one is Escherichia coli (Jacobsen). Project 21013 attempted to address this issue by utilizing knowledge regarding electricity and its effect on bacteria. Researchers are not exactly sure how the bacteria is stunted, however, the current theory suggests the proteins on the cell membrane of bacteria are affected somehow and cell signaling is disrupted. Others mention the net negative charge of the cell wall changes the charge gradient and a similar issue occurs for the bacteria. Each explanation ends in one result, disruption of aggregation of bacteria. Creating a catheter that incorporates a current below 0.5 mA (lowest level of human perception) could halt the aggregation of bacteria regardless of initial infection or an infection that occurs with adjustment of the device in the days following catheterization.