Entry of Bacteria into the Urinary Tracts of Patients with Inlying Catheters

THERE is strong evidence that catheterization is an important means whereby bacteria are introduced into the urinary tract.1 2 3 4 Although bacteria are frequently introduced into the bladder at the time that catheters are inserted, urinary-tract infections are much less common after single catheterizations than after constant drainage of the bladder with inlying catheters.3 , 5 Furthermore, the prophylactic and therapeutic value of antibacterial agents is materially diminished in patients harboring inlying catheters, and the failures of antibacterial agents in such patients are usually due to the replacement of initially susceptible bacteria by resistant ones.Since the bacteria that are found in the urinary . . .