Polyvinylchloride or Hydrophilic-Coated Catheters for Clean Intermittent Catheterization: Insights and Strategies Based on Microbiota

AbstractObjective: This study aimed to characterize the urinary microbiome profiles of neurogenic bladder (NB) patients undergoing clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) with either polyvinylchloride (PVC) or hydrophilic-coated (HC) catheters. The objective is to provide insights into catheter material selection and to inform the development of effective anti-infection strategies.Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study analyzed urine samples collected from NB patients performing CIC using either PVC or HC catheters. Bacterial community composition and microbiome profiles were assessed using high-throughput sequencing techniques.Results: Of the 60 patients enrolled, 53 provided urine samples with sufficient sequence reads for microbiome analysis. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, was significantly higher in the HC group than in the PVC group. In contrast, pathogenic bacteria, including members of Streptococcaceae, were more abundant in the PVC group. Microbial taxa enriched in the PVC group were positively correlated with polyketide and indole alkaloid biosynthesis pathways and negatively correlated with calcium ion reabsorption pathways. Conversely, the HC group exhibited higher abundances of probiotics, such as Latilactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Lacticaseibacillus, which were positively correlated with calcium ion reabsorption pathways. Additionally, a significant negative correlation was observed between the abundances of Lactobacillaceae and Streptococcaceae.Conclusions: The type of catheter material used by NB patients significantly influenced the composition of their urinary microbiota. HC catheters were associated with higher abundances of beneficial bacteria, highlighting their potential advantages in promoting a healthier microbial environment. These findings offer valuable insights into the selection of catheter materials and may contribute to the development of improved infection control strategies for CIC.