Perspectives on technology: Single-use catheters - evidence and environmental impact

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Device Technology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) is a common procedure for bladder management.
• The choice between single-use and multi-use catheters has significant cost and environmental implications.
• Current practices heavily favor single-use catheters despite limited comparative data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of single-use versus multi-use catheters for CIC.
• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and environmental impact of different catheter types.
• To inform future practices regarding catheter selection and sustainability.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted in PubMed, covering the last 50 years.
• Studies comparing single-use and multi-use catheters for CIC were included.
• Data from 11 relevant studies reporting primary data were narratively summarized.

Main Results:

• No significant evidence indicated that multi-use catheters are inferior to single-use catheters regarding infection risk or usability.
• Single-use catheters impose a substantial environmental and financial burden.
• The superiority of single-use catheters over multi-use catheters is not supported by available data.

Conclusions:

• The widespread preference for single-use catheters in the USA may be unwarranted.
• Patient and healthcare professional aversion to reusable catheters lacks strong evidence-based support.
• There is a need for improved comparative data and the adoption of more sustainable catheter practices.