Effect of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bladder Instillations in Patients With Chronic Suprapubic Catheters on Unplanned Healthcare Encounters and Quality of Life

Bacterial colonization is present in up to 95% of chronically catheterized patients. Although a positive urine culture collected from an indwelling catheter is not in isolation indicative of an acute urinary tract infection (UTI), long term catheter use is associated with increased rates of recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI), pyelonephritis, and bacteremia. Using antibiotics for prevention of infections in this patient population can be challenging given the side effects, cost, and emergence of resistant bacteria with antibiotic therapy. To limit systemic side effects, intravesical irrigation is a promising route of medication administration. The use of a non-antibiotic anti-microbial at the time of SPC exchange would eliminate the obstacles of non-compliance and antibiotic resistance associated with antibiotic irrigation for preventive therapy. Irrisept, a 0.05% Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) irrigation in sterile water, could be a promising agent to reduce symptomatic UTIs and unplanned tube changes in chronically catheterized patients.

The proposed route of intravesical instillation involves the administration of a therapeutic agent directly into the bladder via a urinary catheter. This route allows for local contact with bladder mucosa and urinary pathogens. It is a currently accepted route of administration used for therapeutics in urologic conditions including, but not limited to UTI prophylaxis, bladder cancer, hemorrhagic cystitis, and interstitial cystitis. Benefits of intravesical instillation include maximizing exposure of the therapeutic within the bladder while limiting systemic absorption and side effects.

A volume 150cc is based on current clinical administration of bladder instillations. Current intravesical drug delivery is most commonly utilized in volumes 50-150cc for in-office instillation. Population studies of normal volunteers demonstrate that 1st bladder sensation occurs between 125-200cc with subsequent desire to void occurring between 170-370cc. Increasing instillation volumes greater than 150cc, especially in the chronically catheterized population, can lead to patient discomfort or dysreflexia and inability to tolerate the therapy without analgesia or anesthetic.

Inclusion criteria

• Indwelling suprapubic catheter with insertion date at least 1 year prior to study enrollment date.
• History of urinary tract infections, treated for at least 1 positive urine culture in last 6 months

Exclusion criteria

• Current radiographic evidence of urolithiasis
• History of vesicoureteral reflux
• History of renal transplantation
• History of bladder augmentation
• Inability to stop use of other rUTI prophylaxis treatments for the duration of their trial enrollment
• Life expectancy of less than 12 months prior to consent.
• Known hypersensitivity or allergy to chlorhexidine.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.