New catheter coating stops bacteria cells from swarming

catheters

Harmful bacteria that cause UTIs can change their shape into ‘swarmer cells’ to rapidly colonise the inside of catheters. They do this by moving as a group over surfaces, forming dynamic patterns of whirls and jets. Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a new coating – an acrylate copolymer and a first of […]

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AI-designed catheters could dramatically reduce urinary tract infections

AI-designed catheters

AI-designed catheters could dramatically reduce urinary tract infection rates among hospital patients, without the need for chemicals or antibiotics. Around one in five people who stay in NHS hospitals need to use urinary catheters, which are flexible hollow tubes usually made of plastic that drain urine from the bladder into a bag. Urinary catheters are […]

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Mood drugs could beat antibiotic resistance

Scientists are increasingly have to look for new ways to combat bacterial infections due to the rise in antibiotic resistance. Now, researchers at the University of Brighton have found drugs used to treat mood disorders are also potentially active against bacteria which cause common catheter infections. The research, led by Dr Brian Jones, Reader in […]

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How to lessen contamination rates in urine samples

urine

Urine is one of the most common diagnostic specimens. However there is a high rate of contamination in collecting urine samples, rendering them useless. A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract, most commonly the bladder, but occasionally the kidneys, (also known as pyelonephritis). UTI’s are treated with pain relief […]

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