Dataset for 'Prevention of Encrustation and Blockage of Urinary Catheters by Proteus mirabilis via pH-Triggered Release of Bacteriophage'

The crystalline biofilms of Proteus mirabilis can seriously complicate the care of patients undergoing long-term indwelling urinary catheterisation. Expression of bacterial urease causes a significant increase in urinary pH, leading to the supersaturation and precipitation of struvite and apatite crystals. These crystals become lodged within the biofilm, resulting in the blockage of urine flow through the catheter.

This dataset presents the effect on bacterial growth, and hence time to blockage of urinary catheters as a result of an infection-responsive surface coating, which releases a therapeutic dose of bacteriophage in response to elevated urinary pH. The coating employs a dual-layered system comprising of a lower hydrogel ‘reservoir’ layer impregnated with bacteriophage, capped by a ‘trigger’ layer of the pH-responsive polymer poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (EUDRAGIT®S 100). Evaluation of prototype coatings using a clinically reflective in vitro bladder model resulted in the doubling of catheter blockage time under conditions of established infection in response to a 'burst release' of bacteriophage.

The data presented shows the time to blockage for both models infected with urease positive and negative bacteria, as well as the change in bacterial CFU/ml and bacteriophage PFU/ml with time. Samples taken directly from the bladder at time intervals show the simultaneous reduction in bacterial count, accompanied by an increase in viral concentration. Atomic absorption spectroscopy data also presented quantifiably shows the reduction in crystalline biofilm biomass after bacteriophage release within the bladder.