A comparative study of the identification frequency and composition of bacteria isolated from catheter and urine in urologic patients: A single-center descriptive study

This study aimed to compare the identification frequency and composition of bacteria isolated from catheter and urine in urologic patients. Methods: Ninety patients with urethral catheters were involved in the study. Urinary and catheter cultures were taken simultaneously from each patient and cultured on MacConkey's agar. Urine culture and sensitivity were performed for all samples in pre- and postoperative periods. Swab culture and sensitivity from the surface of intraluminal urethral catheters were performed for all cases in the post-operative period. Results: The median indwelling period of the catheters was 8 days (range 3 to 21). The overall positive rate of catheter culture was significantly greater than that of urine culture, even in subjects without a recent antibacterial agent history. Urine cultures and catheter cultures did not match each other completely. The percentage of patients who had the same bacterial species isolated from both specimens increased in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: Not all species of bacteria colonizing the intraluminal surface of the urethral catheter were detected as urinary bacteria. Bacterial colonization on the intraluminal catheter surface could precede the emergence of bacteriuria.