Urinary Catheter Care and Infection Prevention
Mr. Patel, a 65-year-old resident, has an indwelling urinary catheter. You are assigned to provide catheter care during your shift. You notice that the drainage bag is hanging on the bed rail, and the tubing has a dependent loop. Mr. Patel mentions that he has had some burning sensation and his urine looks cloudy. His temperature is 99.8°F (37.7°C). You are about to perform perineal care.
1. What are the potential problems with the current catheter setup, and what should you do about them?
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Problems: Bag on bed rail increases risk of infection and improper drainage; dependent loop can cause urine to pool and backflow. Actions: Reposition bag below bladder level, avoid touching floor, straighten tubing to prevent loops, and report signs of infection (cloudy urine, burning, low-grade fever) to nurse.
2. Describe the steps for performing catheter care while maintaining infection control.
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- Perform hand hygiene and don gloves.
- Explain procedure to resident.
- Clean around catheter insertion site with soap and water or per facility policy, front to back.
- Use a clean washcloth for each stroke.
- Rinse and dry thoroughly.
- Avoid tugging on catheter.
- Remove gloves, perform hand hygiene.
- Document care and any abnormalities.