IMMERSION IN ANTIBIOTIC SOLUTION PREVENTS BACTERIAL ADHESION ONTO BIODEGRADABLE PROSTATIC STENTS

Objective To determine whether immersion in antibiotic solution reduce s or prevents bacterial adhesion onto biodegradable prostatic stents. Materials and methods Pre-cut segments of polyglycolic acid (PGA) and polylactic acid (PLA) prostatic stents were incubated with two common uropathogenic bacterial strains (Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli) with and without previous immersion in antibiotic solution. Tob ramycin, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin solutions were used, as these a ntibiotics are commonly administered for the prophylaxis and treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI). Results Immersion in ciprofloxacin solution prevented the adherence of both bacterial strains, Immersion in ceftriaxone solution prevented only the adherence of the E, coli st rain. Immersion in tobramycin solution had no effect on either of the strains. The stent materials per se did not influence bacterial adhesi on, After immersion in ciprofloxacin, the stent segments retained sign ificant antibacterial activity even after one day's incubation in sali ne. Conclusion Immersion in a suitable antibiotic solution may signifi cantly reduce and even prevent bacterial adhesion onto biodegradable p rostatic stents. Preventing bacterial adhesion may reduce the risk of UTI during the use of these devices.