Pseudomonas aeruginosa and long-term indwelling bladder catheters.

The ability of urinary isolates of nine species of bacteria to bind to urinary catheters has been assessed using a bioluminescence technique. The experiments revealed the particularly adherent properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This organism has also been shown to be most frequently isolated from the urines of the patients undergoing indwelling catheterization. It is suggested that P. aeruginosa commonly grows on the surface of catheters in situ, and that at this site it can survive antibiotic therapy and cause apparent recurrence of infection by reinoculation of the urine once therapy has been completed.