Catheter Care

Deleveloped by
Practice Development Facilitators’s
 What is a urinary catheter
• A specially designed tube into the bladder to
drain urine
 Considerations
• Indwelling catheters are one of the main
source of infection in the hospital setting

• They affect the patient because of body

image, mobility, pain and discomfort
Urinary catheters
 Urinary catheters
• All catheter care including Catheter insertion is
carried out using an Aseptic Non Touch Technique
(ANTT)
• They can be urethral or supra pubic
 Drainage Bags
• The drainage bag is selected depending on the
reasons for catheter and patient choice
 Managing a urinary catheter system
• The catheter and drainage bag should be adequately
fixed to prevent trauma
• A ‘closed’ drainage system is essential to
prevent infection
• A disposable overnight drainage bag should be added
for patients with leg worn bags (Tandem system)
• Bags should be changed inline with manufactures
recommendations (usually weekly) using ANTT
principles
The catheter and drainage bag
should be adequately fixed to
prevent trauma
Complications if not secured
properly
 Closed drainage system
• The bag should only be disconnected for connection of a
new bag
• At night a tandem system must be used (leg bag)

• When opening or manipulating the system a rigorous

ANTT is essential.
• The tip of the new drainage tube should not be touched
before pushing into the catheter
 Catheter associated complications
• CA-UTI - can be introduced because of faulty
handling of equipment, breaking the closed
system, or raising the drainage bag above
bladder level – (fluids)
• Symptoms: loin pain, flank tenderness, sp
discomfort, nausea, vomiting, confusion
• Other complications:
• Leakage/bleeding/blockages
 To prevent infection
• The drainage bag and tube should always be
positioned below the level of the bladder
• There should be no kinks or occlusions in the
tubing
• The bag must be kept off of the floor
• The separate single use clean container be has
to be used and the drainage valve must not
touch the container on emptying the bag
 Cont..
• Empty the bag when 2/3 full
• The tubing should be the correct length to
prevent kinking or pressure on the bladder
Catheter specimen collection
The catheter tubing must not be
kinked or pass under pressure
areas
 Personal Hygiene
• Routine personal hygiene is all that is needed
to maintain cleanliness
• i.e daily bath or shower.
• For patients who are unable to bath or shower
daily, staff should wash the urethral opening
at least twice daily with soap and water and
following bowel movement
 Cont..
• Hand washing and wearing non-sterile gloves
before and after performing catheter care is
always essential by nurses/carers
 Thank you
For listening