A High Throughput, Minimally Invasive, Ultrasound Guided Model for the Study of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections and Device Encrustation in Mice

Purpose Catheter associated urinary tract infections are one of the most common health care associated infections. The condition is frequently complicated by encrustation, which blocks the catheter lumen. Preclinical research is limited by the lack of relevant high throughput and cost-effective animal models. Current models are restricted to female mice, associated with major transurethral loss of catheter materials during micturition, highly invasive and complex. We present an ultrasound guided, minimally invasive model that enables catheter associated urinary tract infection and catheter encrustation studies in each mouse gender. Materials and Methods Catheter segments (4 mm) were implant…