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The catheter and urinary tract infection
1Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
The Medical Clinics of North America
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Catheter-associated bacteriuria is a common hospital infection. Preventing it involves keeping catheter systems closed and removing catheters promptly, with alternatives being the best approach.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Urology
- Healthcare-Associated Infections
Background:
- Catheter-associated bacteriuria (CABP) is the most frequent infection in healthcare settings.
- Closed catheter systems reduce but do not eliminate CABP.
- Once established, CABP complications are difficult to manage, and the urinary tract becomes a bacterial reservoir.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies for preventing and managing catheter-associated bacteriuria.
- To emphasize the importance of closed catheter systems and timely catheter removal.
- To explore alternative urinary drainage methods to urethral catheters.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of strategies for preventing and managing catheter-associated bacteriuria.
- Discussion of the principles of closed catheter systems.
- Evaluation of non-device and alternative device interventions.
Main Results:
- Closed catheter systems postpone bacteriuria onset but do not prevent it indefinitely.
- Early catheter removal is crucial for prevention.
- Non-device alternatives and devices like condom catheters, intermittent, or suprapubic catheterization are viable options.
Conclusions:
- The primary goal is to prevent bacteriuria by avoiding urethral catheters whenever possible.
- Alternative methods should be considered for incontinent patients or those with urinary retention.
- Further controlled trials are needed to define the roles of alternative catheterization methods.