The effective management of catheter-related UTIs

The majority of patients currently residing in Britain's hospitals are older people, many of whom have continence problems that may result in catheterization. Older people are also particularly vulnerable to infection and the consequences of sub-optimal care. Urinary tract infection is the most common health-care-acquired infection and most urinary tract infections are a result of urinary catheterization. This extended case study illustrates how ritualistic catheter care can increase the risks of an older person developing an infection as well as a host of other problems as a result of that infection. It then examines how evidence-based catheter care can reduce the risk of infection and adverse events as well as providing successful patient outcomes.