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Water or antiseptic for periurethral cleaning before urinary catheterization: a randomized controlled trial
J Webster1, R H Hood, C A Burridge
1Nursing and Women's Health Research Centre, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia.
American Journal of Infection Control
|December 18, 2001
Summary
Periurethral cleaning with antiseptic before urinary catheter insertion did not reduce bacteriuria rates. Water cleansing is as effective as chlorhexidine for preventing urinary tract infections in obstetric patients.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Infectious Diseases
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Antiseptic periurethral cleaning before urinary catheterization lacks empirical evidence.
- Traditional practices often involve antiseptic solutions despite limited data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare urinary colonization rates after periurethral cleaning with water versus chlorhexidine 0.1% before indwelling urinary catheter insertion.
Main Methods:
- Obstetric patients requiring urinary catheterization were randomized into "water" or "chlorhexidine" groups.
- Urine specimens were collected 24 hours post-catheter insertion for analysis.
Main Results:
- Of 436 patients, 8.7% developed bacteriuria (>10(6) cfu/L).
- Urinary tract infection rates were similar between groups: 8.2% (water) vs. 9.2% (chlorhexidine).
- Odds ratio for infection was 1.13 (95% CI 0.58-2.21).
Conclusions:
- Periurethral antiseptic cleaning did not decrease bacteriuria rates in this obstetric population.
- Antiseptic use for periurethral cleaning before catheterization is likely not beneficial.
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