Evaluation of the adherence of Candida species to urinary catheters.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common kind of nosocomial infection. Recent years have seen a significant increase in numbers of infections caused by yeasts of the genus Candida. The adherence of a microorganism to the host surface is a decisive factor in the success of colonization and the pathogenesis of infection. The objective of this work was to evaluate the adherence of species of the genus Candida to urinary catheters. In vitro adherence to the sections of latex and silicon catheters of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis were studied. Adherence was measured by counting the number of adhering viable cells and the results were expressed as Colonies Forming Units per mL. The results demonstrated that the latex catheter facilitated adherence more than the silicon catheter (p < 0.01). The adherence of the C. albicans was significantly greater than C. parapsilosis on latex, but it was similar on silicon.