Bladder response to klebsiella infection: a scanning electron microscopy study.

The early response of rat bladder epithelium to Klebsiella pneumoniae was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Increased bacterial adherence with time after challenge paralleled the occurrence of strand formation and ulceration on the bladder epithelium. The early bladder response to the bacteria consisted of altered epithelial membrane structure, strand formation, and exfoliation of some epithelial cells. These observations indicate that K. pneumoniae causes alterations in the bladder epithelium which may trigger an intrinsic bladder defense mechanism consisting of strand entrapment of bacteria, epithelial cell exfoliation, and elimination of attached bacteria via voiding.