Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stones

Abstract Background Recent studies of renal lithiasis identified bacterial imprints in apatite phosphate stones and mixed calcium oxalate/apatite phosphate stones, neither of which contained struvite. Methods This cross-sectional observational study examined 903 stones that were collected from 844 p...

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Main Authors: Felix Grases, Antonia Costa-Bauzá, Francesca Julià, Bernat Isern, Jordi Guimerà, José Luis Bauzá-Quetglas, Valentí Tubau, Enrique Pieras
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Urology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-025-01755-1
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author Felix Grases
Antonia Costa-Bauzá
Francesca Julià
Bernat Isern
Jordi Guimerà
José Luis Bauzá-Quetglas
Valentí Tubau
Enrique Pieras
author_facet Felix Grases
Antonia Costa-Bauzá
Francesca Julià
Bernat Isern
Jordi Guimerà
José Luis Bauzá-Quetglas
Valentí Tubau
Enrique Pieras
author_sort Felix Grases
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Recent studies of renal lithiasis identified bacterial imprints in apatite phosphate stones and mixed calcium oxalate/apatite phosphate stones, neither of which contained struvite. Methods This cross-sectional observational study examined 903 stones that were collected from 844 patients during the course of 1 year. All stones were initially examined by stereoscopic microscopy. Stone fragments were then examined by scanning electron microscopy + microanalysis by X-ray dispersive energy and by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. When bacterial imprints were detected, biochemical and bacteriological analysis of the patient’s urine was performed. Results We found 8 renal stones that had bacterial imprints but no struvite. All 8 stones contained hydroxyapatite, and the imprints were located in this region. Five stones contained hydroxyapatite as the major component, two stones were mixed hydroxyapatite/calcium oxalate dihydrate stones, one was a papillary calcium oxalate monohydrate stone in which bacterial imprints were located at Randall’s plaque and the other was a cavity calcium oxalate monohydrate stone that contained hydroxyapatite in the central core with bacterial imprints. Conclusion We identified bacterial imprints in different types of renal stones that lacked struvite, including papillary stones, and these imprints were always present in a hydroxyapatite matrix. Notably, a urinary pH above 6.0 favors the formation of apatite phosphates and the growth of bacteria. Our findings point to the importance of controlling urinary pH to prevent bacteria-mediated calculogenic processes. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-d448b34ea967418984c3e668c2b83e572025-08-20T02:10:19ZengBMCBMC Urology1471-24902025-03-012511710.1186/s12894-025-01755-1Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stonesFelix Grases0Antonia Costa-Bauzá1Francesca Julià2Bernat Isern3Jordi Guimerà4José Luis Bauzá-Quetglas5Valentí Tubau6Enrique Pieras7Renal Lithiasis and Pathological Calcification Group, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic IslandsRenal Lithiasis and Pathological Calcification Group, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic IslandsRenal Lithiasis and Pathological Calcification Group, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic IslandsRenal Lithiasis and Pathological Calcification Group, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic IslandsUrology Service, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Son Espases University HospitalUrology Service, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Son Espases University HospitalUrology Service, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Son Espases University HospitalRenal Lithiasis and Pathological Calcification Group, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of the Balearic IslandsAbstract Background Recent studies of renal lithiasis identified bacterial imprints in apatite phosphate stones and mixed calcium oxalate/apatite phosphate stones, neither of which contained struvite. Methods This cross-sectional observational study examined 903 stones that were collected from 844 patients during the course of 1 year. All stones were initially examined by stereoscopic microscopy. Stone fragments were then examined by scanning electron microscopy + microanalysis by X-ray dispersive energy and by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. When bacterial imprints were detected, biochemical and bacteriological analysis of the patient’s urine was performed. Results We found 8 renal stones that had bacterial imprints but no struvite. All 8 stones contained hydroxyapatite, and the imprints were located in this region. Five stones contained hydroxyapatite as the major component, two stones were mixed hydroxyapatite/calcium oxalate dihydrate stones, one was a papillary calcium oxalate monohydrate stone in which bacterial imprints were located at Randall’s plaque and the other was a cavity calcium oxalate monohydrate stone that contained hydroxyapatite in the central core with bacterial imprints. Conclusion We identified bacterial imprints in different types of renal stones that lacked struvite, including papillary stones, and these imprints were always present in a hydroxyapatite matrix. Notably, a urinary pH above 6.0 favors the formation of apatite phosphates and the growth of bacteria. Our findings point to the importance of controlling urinary pH to prevent bacteria-mediated calculogenic processes. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-025-01755-1Renal calculiUrineUrinary tract infectionNon-urease producing bacteriaBacterial imprints
spellingShingle Felix Grases
Antonia Costa-Bauzá
Francesca Julià
Bernat Isern
Jordi Guimerà
José Luis Bauzá-Quetglas
Valentí Tubau
Enrique Pieras
Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stones
BMC Urology
Renal calculi
Urine
Urinary tract infection
Non-urease producing bacteria
Bacterial imprints
title Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stones
title_full Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stones
title_fullStr Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stones
title_full_unstemmed Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stones
title_short Evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non-struvite kidney stones
title_sort evidence of bacterial imprints in different types of non struvite kidney stones
topic Renal calculi
Urine
Urinary tract infection
Non-urease producing bacteria
Bacterial imprints
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-025-01755-1
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