Nursing management of urinary tract infections for catheterized patients

Abstract

Nosocomial urinary tract infections account for up to 40% of all hospital-acquired infections with 80% of these associated with the use of urinary catheters. The most important risk factor for infection is duration of catheterization. Clinical practices in catheter management vary widely and frequently are not evidence-based. It is vital that all indwelling catheters should be connected to a sterile closed urinary drainage system and that the connection between the catheter and the urinary drainage system is not broken except for good clinical reasons. Catheter care is a nursing procedure the importance of which is sometimes overlooked and cleansing of the perineum and meatus should be performed twice daily using soap and water.