Yesterday at the ongoing “Urologidagarna” (Urology Days), arranged by the Swedish Urological Society, a Swedish study was presented about Bactiguard’s Infection Protection Foley Catheter Silicone (BIP Foley). The study shows that 28 out 31 patients, who switched from a standard catheter to the BIP Foley Catheter, felt that the change led to both less urinary tract infections and less antibiotic treatments.
The study was conducted by Charlotte Trossle, homecare nurse at the Urological clinic at Skåne University Hospital. The purpose of the study was to evaluate how the patients have experienced the BIP Foley catheter regarding comfort and effect on urinary tract infections (UTI) and antibiotic treatments, in comparison to their ordinary standard catheter. In addition, the study also evaluated how the Bactiguard Infection Protection coating affected the bacteria in the urine, the degree of urological symptoms, the number of cases of urosepsis and catheter blockage, for some of the patients. The study included 31 patients between 46-90 years (majority> 60 years) who use a transurethral or subrapubic indwelling silicone catheter.
The questionnaire also showed that 28 out of the 31 patients had perceived that the use of the BIP Foley Catheter resulted in both fewer urinary tract infections and fewer antibiotic treatments for urinary tract infections, compared to the standard catheter. In addition, 27 of the patients perceived that the BIP Foley Catheter felt better or as good as the standard catheter. Microbiological tests were conducted on fifteen of the patients. The tests showed that the patients had bacteria in their urine both before and after the replacement of the catheter, but the number of bacteria decreased significantly by half the amount after the switch to the BIP Foley Catheter.
For five patients, the rate of UTI-related symptoms (fever, urinary bladder pain, urgency, cloudy urine, odor and malaise) decreased after switching to the BIP Foley Catheter. In addition, 3 out of 5 patients no longer had problems with catheter blockage. Four patients had catheter-related blood poisoning (urosepsis) before, but not after the catheter change. No adverse events were noted, which confirms that the BIP Foley Catheter is safe for patients.
