Avoiding urinary tract infections (UTI) by trying to keep a catheter sterile has been a difficult challenge. Studies show that standard antimicrobial treatments, at least for folks with indwelling catheters, are not effective at preventing UTIs. For more on that, see my post – Urinary Tract Infection and Catheter Care. So we are always looking […]
Successfully Reducing Urinary Catheter Use And Use Of Antibiotics
Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of having a bladder catheter is the risk of urinary tract infection. If you have ever had a UTI, you’ll know how painful and unpleasant they can be. Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) can kill you (see Relationship of catheter-associated urinary tract infection to mortality). CAUTIs account for about […]
Data-Driven Information On Prevention Of Catheter Related Problems
THE primary reasons for starting this web site was to provide help to those of us who must live our lives – for however long – while wearing an indwelling urinary catheter. when I first got mine I had all kinds of questions and found all kinds of conflicting advice all over the internet. I’m […]
Urinary Tract Infection In Those With Catheters Is Lowest In Michigan
Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are much lower in Michigan according to a new study. The data seem to be associated with hospitalized patients versus those with long-term indwelling catheters living at home. Also, the only hints at what might be responsible for the reduction in UTI incidence were references to timely removal of […]
Purple Urine Bag Syndrome or PUBS
In people with recurrent urinary tract infections and long-term catheterization, there is a phenomenon that can occur where the urine turns purple. Not surprisingly this is called Purple Urine Bag Syndrome, or “PUBS” for short. It usually happens to folks who are more chronically debilitated, and more often in women than men. Bacteria containing certain […]
Urinary Tract Infection and Catheter Care
Urinary tract infection is one of the biggest concerns for those of us with long-term indwelling catheters (both urethral and suprapubic). And sadly, there is a bunch of misinformation out there about how to help prevent a UTI. I’m a huge fan of scientifically gathered evidence. I’m also a fan of not wasting time and […]
Catheters And Urinary Tract Infections
People with indwelling catheters (those that are left inside the body for more than just a day or two) are very susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTI). Obviously the bladder is no longer completely inside your body with only the urethra and the ureters as outputs and inputs. So the inside of the bladder is […]