Biofilm Development on Urinary Catheters Promotes the Appearance of Viable but Nonculturable Bacteria
Sandra Wilks, Verena V. Koerfer, Jacqui Prieto, Mandy Fader, C. W. Keevil
Abstract
Several antimicrobial urinary catheter materials have been developed, but, although laboratory studies may show a benefit, none have significantly improved clinical outcomes. The use of poorly designed laboratory testing and lack of consideration of the impact of VBNC populations may be responsible. While the presence of VBNC populations is becoming more widely reported, there remains a lack of understanding of the clinical impact or influence of exposure to antimicrobial products. This is the first study to investigate the impact of antimicrobial surface materials and the appearance of VBNC populations. This demonstrates how improved testing is needed before clinical trials are initiated.