A urinary catheter is a tube placed in the bladder that drains urine into a bag outside the body. In some cases, this catheter may be permanent if there is:
- Urine leakage (incontinence)
- Inability to empty the bladder
- Surgery on the bladder, prostate, or vagina
When this catheter is permanent, urinary tract, bladder, or kidney infections are very likely to develop. Up to 24% of patients with bacteriuria contract infections. If these infections occur recurrently, they are likely to cause kidney damage or kidney and bladder stones.
What symptoms exist if I have a urinary catheter infection?
Symptoms can be vague or suggest sepsis (in rare cases). Diagnosis depends on the presence of symptoms. Less than 10% of catheterized patients experience classic urinary infection symptoms.
Some of the most common symptoms when contracting an infection if you have a catheter are:
- Abnormal urine color or cloudy and foul-smelling urine. This does not always represent a urinary tract infection in catheterized patients. If you want to avoid urine odor, you can use deodorizing sprays like Nodorin®.
- Blood in the urine
- Frequent and strong urge to urinate
- Pressure, pain, or spasms in the back or lower abdomen
Other symptoms that may appear occasionally are:
- Chills
- Fever. Urinary tract infections account for one-third of febrile processes in patients with permanent catheters.
- Flank pain
- Mental changes or confusion (especially in older people)
What to do if I have a urinary tract infection in these cases?
Each time you have an infection, the catheter needs to be changed. If you have recurrent infections, it is likely that:
- You will be advised to insert an intermittent catheter instead of a permanent one for a while.
- The use of other types of urine collection devices.
- The use of a special coated catheter that reduces the risk of infection.
- The daily use of an antibacterial or antibiotic.
How to prevent urinary tract infections with a permanent catheter?
- Clean around the catheter opening every day. With specific soaps for this, such as Urogelus®
- Clean the catheter with soap and water every day.
- Clean the rectal area thoroughly after each bowel movement.
- Keep your drainage bag lower than your bladder. This prevents urine in the bag from flowing back into your bladder.
- Empty the drainage bag at least every 8 hours, or when full.
- Make sure your permanent catheter is changed at least once a month.
- Wash your hands before and after touching your urine.
- Take supplements to help reduce your urinary infections, with ingredients that acidify your urinary pH such as Metiofitina®.
Curious facts
- 75% of urinary tract infections that develop in hospitals are caused by the use of urinary catheters.
- Between 15% and 25% of hospitalized patients use urinary catheters.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000483.htm
https://www.msdmanuals.com/es/professional/trastornos-urogenitales/infecciones-urinarias/infecciones-urinarias-asociadas-con-cat%C3%A9ter?ruleredirectid=756
https://www.cdc.gov/uti/about/cauti-basics.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hai/ca_uti/uti.html
