New Catheter Reduces Risk of Urinary Tract Infection

May 15th, 2020

Photo: Sharon McCutcheon, Unspalsh.

Every year 15,000 to 20,000 people contract urinary tract infections caused by catheterization, according to online magazine Propatienter. The new catheter’s surface is porous enough to allow a small amount of fluid antibiotic to seep through and thus prevent an infection.

LINX and the University of Copenhagen worked with Biomodics and the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Odense University Hospital. Using neutron scattering analysis the team developed a special balloon that lets a small amount of antibiotic seep through the wall of the catheter. A minimal amount of antibiotics can thus cure an incipient or an existing infection. Antibiotic consumption is lowered, as is cost.

Treating urinary tract infections using traditional methods costs 20,000 to 27,000 DKK (2700 EUR to 3600 EUR), and the new method is not only cheaper but it also reduces the risk of antibiotic resistance, according to Propatienter.

Read the Danish piece on propatienter.dk – Nyt kateter kan kurere urinvejsinfektioner.

See other media coverage by LINX.