Issues surrounding the prevention and management of device-related infections

The use of biomaterial devices in all aspects of modern medicine has increa sed exponentially in the past three decades. Device-related infections cons titute one of the main impediments to their long-term use. We discuss the p athogenesis, prevention. and management of catheter-associated urinary trac t infection (CAUTI). The recent innovations in biomaterial design and surfa ce coatings intended to prevent colonization of the device surface are pres ented. Despite these significant advances, the ability to protect these sur faces beyond the short term presents a continued challenge to investigators .