The most common cause of encrustation is:

The most common cause of encrustation is:

• A. Concentrated urine with the presence of glucose
• B. Urine colonized by urease-producing bacteria
• C. Acidic urine
• D. Prolonged catheterization (> 6 months)

Answer: (B)

Encrustation on urinary devices mainly occurs when urine is colonized by bacteria that produce urease. The urease enzyme splits urea into ammonia, which raises the urine pH. Alkaline urine promotes precipitation of minerals, especially magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and carbonate apatite, forming encrustations and a biofilm on the catheter. Among the options, this describes the direct cause most accurately. While concentrated urine with glucose, acidic urine, or prolonged catheterization can influence risk, they do not explain the specific mechanism of encrustation as clearly as urease-producing bacterial colonization.

Encrustation on urinary devices mainly occurs when urine is colonized by bacteria that produce urease. The urease enzyme splits urea into ammonia, which raises the urine pH. Alkaline urine promotes precipitation of minerals, especially magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and carbonate apatite, forming encrustations and a biofilm on the catheter. Among the options, this describes the direct cause most accurately. While concentrated urine with glucose, acidic urine, or prolonged catheterization can influence risk, they do not explain the specific mechanism of encrustation as clearly as urease-producing bacterial colonization.