About this topic
An indwelling catheter is sometimes called a Foley catheter. It is a thin, flexible tube that drains urine from your bladder. The catheter connects to a special bag which holds the urine until you are able to drain it. You may need to have a catheter for a short time or long time. You may need a catheter during and after surgery or certain tests, if you cannot pass urine, or if the exact amount of urine needs to be known. ‚
A urinary tract infection or UTI can be a very serious illness. Having a catheter puts you at a higher risk of having a UTI. This kind of infection is called a catheter associated UTI or CAUTI. It is important to work to prevent this kind of infection. You are more likely to have a CAUTI if you: ‚
- Have a catheter in place for a long time
- Have a history of serious illnesses like a neurological problem
- Have high blood sugar or diabetes
- Are female
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What problems could happen?
You may have a UTI even though you are trying to prevent it. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- The nurse will take extra care when placing the urinary catheter.
- The nurse will clean your genitals. Sterile equipment is used and sterile gloves will be worn by the nurse placing the catheter.
- The nurse will remove the catheter as soon as possible when it is no longer needed.
- Prevent infections:
- Wash your hands before and after you touch your genitals, catheter, drainage bag, or any urine collection device.
- Wash the skin around the catheter with soap and water each day. Wash the outside of the catheter to keep it clean as well. Rinse well so no soap is left. Pat dry. Do not use creams or lotions on the catheter.
- Keep the drainage system closed.
- Do not switch between drainage bags. If you must change the bag, be sure you clean the connection between the catheter and the bag before you switch bags. Ask your doctor what to use to clean the connection.
- Care for the tube:
- Keep the catheter and tubing secure. Do not pull on it or catch the tubing on anything when you are moving around.
- Do not let the tubing kink or loop.
- Care for the drainage bag:
- Keep your urine bag below your bladder.
- Drain the bag often into a clean container that is just used for your urine.
- Keep the drainage spout from touching the container or floor when draining the bag. This will help to keep you from getting an infection.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain around the catheter, or redness or swelling of the skin around the catheter.
- Urine has blood in it, is dark or coffee colored, or is pus-like
- Tube comes out or urine stops flowing
- Burning or painful feeling in your bladder
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you what I can do to help prevent infection.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, my urine has blood in it, the tube comes out, or urine stops flowing.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/ca_uti/cauti_faqs.html ‚
National Institutes of Health ‚
http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/patient_education/pepubs/bladder/foley5_17.pdf ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚