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Preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Long-Term Care Nursing Advisor, April 22, 2005

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most common nosocomial infections, with more than one million patients in acute and long-term care facilities acquiring them each year.

To prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections, avoid unnecessary catheterization and remove catheters as soon as they are no longer needed.

Also, the CDC recommends that healthcare providers consider alternatives to urethral catheterization, such a suprapubic catheterization.

To further protect against infection, catheters should always be inserted using an aseptic technique, with sterile gloves and drapes and a cutaneous antiseptic.

Finally, the CDC says that the maintenance of close drainage is one of the best ways to prevent urinary tract infections. The collection bag and tubing should be kept below the level of the resident's bladder, while the drainage tubing should remain above the collection bag.

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