Inhibitors of bacterial adherence to urothelium.

We attempted to change the degree of bacterial adherence to rat urothelium by administering chemical and immunotropic agents as subcutaneous injections and as bladder instillations. Organic iodine instillations with an adjusted pH were effective. Levamisole and Freund adjuvant instillations were effective but were associated with excessive morbidity. AgNO3, inorganic iodide, and heparin instillations were not effective in the animal model used. Bladder instillations might be developed as a way to augment the antiadherence capacity of the bladder and prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.