How urinary catheters and stents change infection risk and the bladder lining
Impact of Foreign Bodies on Infection Susceptibility, Disease and Mucosal Remodeling of the Urinary Tract
['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11251218
This research looks at how catheters and ureteral stents change the microbes and lining of the urinary tract in people with these devices to help prevent and treat device-related infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11251218 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have a urinary catheter or stent, researchers will collect urine and device samples and use advanced DNA sequencing to identify all the bacteria, including ones that are hard to grow in the lab. They will study how mixed bacterial communities form on devices, how those communities cause symptoms and resist antibiotics, and how the urinary tract lining remodels in response. The team will combine clinical samples with laboratory experiments to pinpoint which microbes or community patterns drive disease and why infections often recur after device replacement. The work aims to translate those findings into better prevention, targeted treatments, and improved device strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who currently have or frequently need indwelling urinary catheters or ureteral stents, or who have recurrent device-associated urinary tract infections, would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People without indwelling urinary devices or whose infections are unrelated to catheters or stents are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to more effective prevention and targeted treatments for catheter- and stent-related UTIs, fewer repeat procedures, and reduced antibiotic use.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that catheter biofilms are often polymicrobial and linked to treatment failure, but applying third-generation sequencing and linking specific community patterns to symptoms and tissue changes is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HULTGREN, SCOTT J. — WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: HULTGREN, SCOTT J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.