[A survey on the current status and trends in bladder irrigation]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Hospital Pharmacy Practices
• Infection Control

Background:

• Bladder irrigation is a common procedure in healthcare settings.
• Understanding current practices and agent usage is crucial for optimizing patient care and safety.
• Previous data on Japanese hospital bladder irrigation practices were limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current use of bladder irrigation in Japanese hospitals.
• To identify commonly used irrigants, their concentrations, and preparation methods.
• To assess reported side effects and storage practices of bladder irrigants.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted among 592 Japanese hospitals.
• Data were collected on irrigant types, concentrations, preparation, storage, and side effects.
• Response rate was 70.8%, with 418 hospitals participating.

Main Results:

• Fifty-eight different irrigants were reported, with chlorhexidine gluconate (18.8%) and Polymyxin B (17.1%) being most frequent.
• Common concentrations were identified for key agents.
• Irritation was reported by 65 hospitals; common container types and water sources for preparation were noted.
• Preparation of irrigants for Pseudomonas infections and clouded urine was analyzed, with significant inter-hospital variation in agent use.

Conclusions:

• Hospital pharmacies prepared a wide variety of bladder irrigants.
• Chlorhexidine gluconate and Polymyxin B were prevalent, but usage varied.
• Standardization of irrigant preparation and administration could improve safety and efficiency.