N-acetylcysteine prevents catheter occlusion and inflammation in catheter associated-urinary tract infections by suppressing urease activity.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Proteus mirabilis is a key pathobiont in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs), which is well known to form crystalline biofilms that occlude catheters. Urease activity alkylates urine through the release of ammonia, consequentially resulting in higher levels of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ and formation of crystals. In this study, we showed that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a thiol antioxidant, is a potent urease inhibitor that prevents crystalline biofilm formation.

Methods

To quantify urease activity, Berthelot's method was done on bacterial extracts treated with NAC. We also used an in vitro catheterised glass bladder model to study the effect of NAC treatment on catheter occlusion and biofilm encrustation in P. mi

SUBMITTER: Manoharan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10641931 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature