Get full access with a free account@headerTag>
Benefits of the Coloplast® Professional Educational platform
Get full access to all educational content, events and resources
Track your progress
Share content with your colleagues
Share supporting material with your patient
Intermittent catheterization is an important contributing risk factor for UTIs in a neurogenic bladder.1 It allows bacteria from the lower urethral region to be deposited directly into the bladder and cannot create the mechanical rinsing of the bladder that occurs during normal voiding.2,3
Additionally, nonhygienic intermittent catheterization practices can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract. Use of the no-touch catheter technique, which includes use of a urinary catheters without touch by the user’s hand, like a nontouch sleeve and insertion tip has been shown to reduce the risk.2,3
Clinical Evidence
- While the data Is based on few patients and bacterial counts, clinical studies suggest that use of a no-touch catheter is associated with a 30% reduction in bacteriuria and general low bacteriuria levels.2-4
- A hospital study reported on a no-touch catheter and technique with 35% less infection (UTIs not defined) per admission when compared to a retrospective, very different control group.5
- In a 2 × 2 weeks crossover study of a new no-touch sleeve system compared to a conventional catheter, five UTIs were reported, but without information about in which Advances in Urology 7 group they occurred.6
- In a Canadian survey of Intermittent catheterization practices following spinal cord injury, there was no difference in UTI incidence rate if catheters were disinfected between use or not.7
Conclusion
The positive influence of catheter design is controversial, but overall, the present evidence suggests beneficial use of hydrophilic catheters for CIC management.4