ESCHERICHIA-COLI AND ENTEROCOCCUS-FAECALIS WHOLE CELLS AND METABOLIC BY-PRODUCTS REDUCE BLADDER CELL VIABILITY

The present study showed that three isolates each of E. faecalis and E . coli and their metabolic by-products significantly reduced the viabi lity of uroepithelial cells within 1-4h in vitro. Strains of Lactobaci llus, renowned for their potential ability to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI), did not confer the same degree of viab ility loss on the bladder cells compared with the pathogens. These res ults corroborate with clinical findings that the presence of uropathog ens has a detrimental effect on the bladder mucosa. By not treating ba cteriuria, the organisms are likely to continue to damage the host, wh ether or not symptoms and signs exist. The biodegradation of host cell s has serious implications for the patient. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.