Bacterial colonization of intestinal urinary conduit diversion: a morphologic and bacteriologic experimental study.

Cutaneous diversion of the urine through intestinal conduits results in bacteriuria with uropathogenic organisms in up to 80% of patients, many of whom suffer pyelonephritis. Analysis of the bacteriologic data from daily sampling at multiple sites and scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies of sequential loop and autopsy specimens in rabbits with functioning colonic conduits indicate that the pyelonephritis evolves in sequential stages of microbial colonization. Using these data on the natural progression of bacterial infection, we can rationally test the ability of strains of bacteria indigenous to the conduit of this animal model to prevent uropathogenic colonization of the conduit.