FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 311:560-564 August 30, 1984 Number 9 Next

	Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Abstract

We studied 110 catheterized patients to determine the concentration of microorganisms that would indicate infection in urine aspirated from an indwelling urethral catheter. High-level bacteriuria or candiduria (greater than 10(5) colony-forming units per milliliter) developed in 34 patients. However, low-level bacteriuria or candiduria (less than 10(5) organisms per milliliter), which developed in 41 patients, progressed to concentrations above 10(5) organisms per milliliter 96 per cent of the time (P less than 0.001), usually within three days of the initial culture showing growth, unless the patient received intercurrent suppressive antimicrobial therapy. We conclude that the urinary tract of catheterized patients is highly susceptible to infection once small numbers of microorganisms gain access and that a concentration considerably below 10(5) organisms per milliliter may be clinically and epidemiologically important in this setting.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Stensballe, J., Tvede, M., Looms, D., Lippert, F. K., Dahl, B., Tonnesen, E., Rasmussen, L. S. (2007). Infection Risk with Nitrofurazone-Impregnated Urinary Catheters in Trauma Patients: A Randomized Trial. ANN INTERN MED 147: 285-293 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Trautner, B. W., Darouiche, R. O. (2004). Catheter-Associated Infections: Pathogenesis Affects Prevention. Arch Intern Med 164: 842-850 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Eggimann, P., Pittet, D. (2001). Infection Control in the ICU. Chest 120: 2059-2093 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tambyah, P. A., Maki, D. G. (2000). The Relationship Between Pyuria and Infection in Patients With Indwelling Urinary Catheters: A Prospective Study of 761 Patients. Arch Intern Med 160: 673-677 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tambyah, P. A., Maki, D. G. (2000). Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Is Rarely Symptomatic: A Prospective Study of 1497 Catheterized Patients. Arch Intern Med 160: 678-682 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Marik, P. E. (2000). Fever in the ICU. Chest 117: 855-869 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• David, T. S., Vrahas, M. S. (2000). Perioperative Lower Urinary Tract Infections and Deep Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 8: 66-74 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Saint, S., Lipsky, B. A. (1999). Preventing Catheter-Related Bacteriuria: Should We? Can We? How?. Arch Intern Med 159: 800-808 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Stamm, W. E., Hooton, T. M. (1993). Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Adults. NEJM 329: 1328-1334 [Full Text]