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Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1974 Aug 3;111(3):238-239, 241.

The problem of catheter encrustation

A W Bruce, S S Sira, A F Clark, S A Awad
PMCID: PMC1947672  PMID: 4855013

Abstract

Catheter encrustation was studied in a group of long-stay hospital patients using both latex and silicone catheters. Moisture accounted for 80% by weight of the encrusted material with both catheters. Of the dry weight 90% was composed of protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and uric acid. No relationship was found between the amounts of these substances in the urine and in the encrusted material. High levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were found in the encrusted material from patients infected with Proteus organisms. No direct relationship was found between the duration of catheter drainage and the degree of encrustation, and there was a variation in patient susceptibility to encrustation irrespective of the catheter material. There was significantly less encrustation associated with silicone catheters.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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