Flinders University researchers are undertaking a project to reduce urinary tract infections associated with the use of catheters during hospital stays.

Lecturer and researcher Dr Ingo Koeper explained that high rates of infection in patients are “not surprising really, because as soon as you insert foreign material into the body, bacteria will grow”. Current medical practice is to regularly change catheters in an effort to prevent infection; however, this is uncomfortable for patients and expensive for the health system.

Dr Koeper and his team have proposed an alternative that will be both simpler and more effective - coating the catheter with a non-toxic bacteria-resistant chemical compound. The project came about after Dr Koeper learnt a colleague in the water desalination field was using a similar technique on desalination membranes.

“We are using a similar polymer and a similar method,” he said, “and early laboratory results have been promising, suggesting that we can cut bacterial growth by 95%.”

Now, said Dr Koeper, the team needs to determine that the product they are using to coat the catheter is safe for human use. The team is working closely with urology doctors and nurses based at the Repatriation General Hospital, where they are analysing the data of urology patients and interviewing medical staff about current catheter practice.

With the help of a $30,000 grant from The Repat Foundation, the researchers plan to develop a suitable chemical compound and hold comprehensive clinical trials to ensure its safety and efficacy. Dr Koeper said the team is “hoping that within five years we may have a new bacteria-resistant catheter on the market”.