Safety and efficacy of a novel silver-impregnated urinary catheter system for preventing catheter-associated bacteriuria: a pilot randomized clinical trial.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of a novel silver-impregnated Foley catheter system designed to prevent catheter-associated bacteriuria and funguria, assess recruitment feasibility for a future pivotal trial, and preliminarily assess efficacy.

Methods: This single-center, randomized controlled trial at a university hospital involved adult neurosurgical patients expected to have a urinary catheter for ≥24 hours. Subjects were randomized to a novel silver-impregnated (test) Foley catheter system or a control system. They were followed for 30 days (or until discharge) while catheterized and for up to 48 hours after catheter removal, with daily bacteriuria testing and assessment for symptoms of infection and catheter intolerance.

Results: Ninety-five subjects were randomized (intention-to-treat [ITT] population). Of these, 61 subjects (64%) had a catheter for ≥24 hours without perioperative antibiotics beyond 24 hours (evaluable population). In the ITT population, 11 of 95 (12%) subjects had an asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) event. Compared with controls, test system recipients had a trend toward longer time to ABU in the ITT population (P = .08, log-rank test) and a longer time to ABU in the evaluable population (P = .03). All 6 ABU events caused by gram-negative bacilli occurred in the control group.

Conclusion: In this pilot randomized trial the test system was well tolerated and seemingly effective in preventing catheter-associated bacteriuria, especially with gram-negative bacilli. A pivotal study is warranted.