Reduction in lower urinary tract mucosal microtrauma as an effect of reducing eyelet sizes of intermittent urinary catheters.

Intermittent catheterization (IC) utilizing conventional eyelets catheters (CECs) for bladder drainage has long been the standard of care. However, when the tissue of the lower urinary tract comes in close proximity to the eyelets, mucosal suction often occurs, resulting in microtrauma. This study investigates the impact of replacing conventional eyelets with a drainage zone featuring multiple micro-holes, distributing pressure over a larger area. Lower pressures limit the suction of surrounding tissue into these micro-holes, significantly reducing tissue microtrauma. Using an ex vivo model replicating the intra-abdominal pressure conditions of the bladder, the intra-catheter pressure was measured during drainage. When mucosal suction occurred, intra-catheter images were recorded. Subsequently affected tissue samples were investigated histologically. The negative pressure peaks caused by mucosal suction were found to be very high for the CECs, leading to exfoliation of the bladder urothelium and breakage of the urothelial barrier. However, a micro-hole zone catheter (MHZC) with a multi-eyelet drainage zone showed significantly lower pressure peaks, with over 4 times lower peak intensity, thus inducing far less extensive microtraumas. Limiting or even eliminating mucosal suction and resulting tissue microtrauma may contribute to safer catheterizations in vivo and increased patient comfort and compliance.

Hydrophilic catheters for intermittent catheterization and occurrence of urinary tract infections. A retrospective comparative study in patients with spinal cord Injury.

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic bladder dysfunction is a major problem for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients not only due to the risk of serious complications but also because of the impact on quality of life. The main aim of this study is to compare the rate of urinary tract infection (UTI) associated with hydrophilic-coated catheters versus uncoated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) catheters among SCI patients presenting with functional neurogenic bladder sphincter disorders. METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective cohort study from 2005 to 2020 including adult male or female patients who have an SCI at least more than 1 month ago with neurogenic bladder dysfunction and were using intermittent catheterization (single-use hydrophilic-coated or the standard-of-care polyvinyl chloride uncoated standard catheters) at least 3 times a day to maintain bladder emptying. RESULTS: A total of 1000 patients were selected and recruited through a stratified random sampling technique with 467 (47.60%) patients in the uncoated catheter arm and 524 (52.60%) in the coated catheter groups. The three outcome measures, namely: symptomatic UTI, Bacteriuria, and pyuria were significantly higher in the group using uncoated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) catheters compared to hydrophilic-coated catheters at the rate of 79.60% vs.46.60%, 81.10% vs. 64.69, and 53.57% versus 41.79% respectively. Males, elder patients, longer duration, and severity of SCI were associated with increased risk of symptomatic UTI. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a beneficial effect regarding clinical UTI when using hydrophilic-coated catheters in terms of fewer cases of symptomatic UTI. Bacteriuria is inevitable in patients with long-term catheterization, however, treatment should not be started unless the clinical symptoms exist. More attention should be given to the high-risk group for symptomatic UTIs.

Use of indwelling urinary catheters in nursing home residents: results from a cross-sectional study in 21 German nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: Indwelling urinary catheters often lead to complications such as symptomatic urinary tract infections. In nursing home residents, catheter prevalence is high, but prevalence differences by sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and health services use have rarely been investigated. The purpose of this work was to describe the use of indwelling urinary catheters in nursing home residents and to examine whether catheter use is associated with individual characteristics. METHODS: Cross-sectional data of the "Inappropriate Medication in patients with REnal insufficiency in Nursing homes" (IMREN) study conducted in 21 German nursing homes between October 2014 and April 2015 were analyzed. For all residents of the involved care units, nurses of the participating institutions completed an anonymous questionnaire including the Modified Rankin Scale to assess physical impairments. The proportion of nursing home residents with indwelling urinary catheter was determined. Associations between catheter use and individual characteristics were investigated via cluster-adjusted multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 852 residents (76.5% female; mean age 83.5 years), 13.4% had an indwelling urinary catheter. The adjusted odds ratios for catheter use for men vs. women was 2.86 (95% confidence interval 1.82-4.50). For residents with "moderate" disability vs. those with "no to slight" disability it was 3.27 (1.36-7.85), for individuals with "moderately severe" disability vs. the reference group it was 9.03 (3.40-23.97), and for those with "severe" disability vs. the reference group it was 26.73 (8.60-83.14). For residents who had been hospitalized within the last 12 months vs. those without a hospitalization it was 1.97 (1.01-3.87). For age, dementia, overweight/obesity, other indwelling devices, and long-term medications no significant associations were found. CONCLUSIONS: Male nursing home residents, residents with a higher degree of physical impairment, and those who had been hospitalized within the last 12 months were more likely to use an indwelling urinary catheter than their counterparts. Data on circumstances of and indications for catheters, catheter types, and duration of catheterization are needed to evaluate the appropriateness of catheter use in nursing home residents and the need for interventions.

Skin integrity preservation using a nurse-constructed silicone adhesive Foley catheter.

AIMS: Skin breakdown is common in the intensive care unit (ICU). This pilot evaluation aimed to determine whether a nurse-constructed urinary catheter securement device using a silicone adhesive could reduce the complications of blistering and other skin breakdowns in a high-risk ICU population with Foley catheters. DESIGN: A prospective, non-randomised performance improvement study using a convenience sample was carried out. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The study sample consisted of 29 patients with urethral Foley catheters and any degree of thigh oedema in a surgical ICU at an academic quarternary medical center. METHODS: Patients were fitted with a standard acrylic-adhesive catheter securement device on one thigh and a nurse-constructed device on the contralateral thigh. At the beginning of each 12-hour shift, the nurse moved the Foley catheter from one securement device to the other; the nurse recorded the assessment findings at the end of the shift. RESULTS: The average age of the 29 patients was 61±16 (range 20-87) years. Visible skin compromise occurred in 21% of the time with the standard acrylic securement device; an equal percentage of men and women developed skin breakdown. Oedema status was a significant factor related to skin breakdown. There was no visible damage to the skin associated with the nurse-constructed silicone-adhesive device. CONCLUSIONS: A silicone adhesive urinary catheter securement device causes less skin damage than one with acrylic adhesive. One-step application, pain-free and atraumatic removal, and reliable securement are essential considerations in product development.

Assessment of Biofilm Forming Capability and Antibiotic Resistance in Proteus mirabilis Colonizing Indwelling Catheter.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Urinary tract infections from the use of an indwelling urinary catheter are one of the most common infections caused by <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>. Due to their biofilm-producing capacity and the increasing antimicrobial resistance in this microorganism, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, biofilm-producing capacity, antimicrobial resistance patterns, multidrug resistance and plasmid mediated resistance of the recovered isolates. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A total of 50 urinary samples were collected from May to August, 2018 from patients on indwelling urinary catheters. Using routine microbiological and biochemical methods, 37 <i>P. mirabilis</i> were isolated. Biofilm forming capability was determined among the isolates using the tube method while antimicrobial susceptibility and plasmid curing were also performed. <b>Results:</b> All isolates were biofilm producers with 17(46%) being moderate producers while 20(54%) were strong biofilm formers. The study isolates exhibited a high resistance rate to empiric antibiotics, including ceftazidime (75.8%), cefuroxime (54.5%), ampicillin (69.7%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (51.5%). Low resistance was seen in the fluoroquinolones, gentamicin and nitrofurantoin. Plasmid curing experiment revealed that most isolates lost their resistance indicating that resistance was borne on plasmids. Plasmid carriage is likely the reason for the high MDR rate of 56.8% observed. <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings necessitate the provision of infection control programs which will guide and implement policies.

Impact of Infection Prevention Programs on Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections Analyzed in Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) account for a large proportion of healthcare-associated infections and have a significant impact on morbidity, length of hospital stay, and mortality. Adherence to the recommended infection prevention practices can effectively reduce the incidence of CAUTIs. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of CAUTIs and the efficacy of prevention programs across hospitals of various sizes. METHODS: Intervention programs, including training, surveillance, and monitoring, were implemented. Data on the microorganisms responsible for CAUTIs, urinary catheter utilization ratio, rate of CAUTIs per 1,000 device days, and factors associated with the use of indwelling catheters were collected from 2017 to 2019. The incidence of CAUTIs and associated data were compared between university hospitals and small- and medium-sized hospitals. RESULTS: Thirty-two hospitals participated in the study, including 21 university hospitals and 11 small- and medium-sized hospitals. The microorganisms responsible for CAUTIs and their resistance rates did not differ between the two groups. In the first quarter of 2018, the incidence rate was 2.05 infections/1,000 device-days in university hospitals and 1.44 infections/1,000 device-days in small- and medium-sized hospitals. After implementing interventions, the rate gradually decreased in the first quarter of 2019, with 1.18 infections/1,000 device-days in university hospitals and 0.79 infections/1,000 device-days in small- and medium-sized hospitals. However, by the end of the study, the infection rate increased to 1.74 infections/1,000 device-days in university hospitals and 1.80 infections/1,000 device-days in small- and medium-sized hospitals. CONCLUSION: We implemented interventions to prevent CAUTIs and evaluated their outcomes. The incidence of these infections decreased in the initial phases of the intervention when adequate support and personnel were present. The rate of these infections may be reduced by implementing active interventions such as consistent monitoring and adherence to guidelines for preventing infections.

Penile urinary sheaths: a continence management system for men.

Urinary leakage is prevalent in men. To contain and manage this leakage, men are often advised about urinary devices. However, sometimes this advice does not include penile sheaths. Penile sheaths are a good way of managing urinary leakage if an individual is suitable for sheaths. This article will explore this suitability, advantages to using a sheath, reasons why sheaths may not be suitable, and will discuss optimum fitting to ensure the sheath is a secure drainage device.

Factors associated with symptomatic urinary tract infection in persons with spinal cord lesions who perform clean intermittent catheterization with single-use catheters.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate factors associated with symptomatic urinary tract infection (sUTI) in persons with chronic spinal cord lesion (SCL) who were using single-use catheters for intermittent self-catheterization (ISC). METHODS: Among respondents to an internet survey on the burden of illness on persons with SCL who were considered to be able to perform ISC, 111 persons using single-use catheters were included to examine factors associated with self-reported sUTI by univariate as well as multivariable analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of sUTI was significantly higher in males than in females (56.9% vs. 31.6%, p = .011), persons with stocks of antibiotics than those without it (82.9% vs. 28.6%, p < .011), and persons with more frequent bleeding during catheterization than those with less frequent bleeding (100% vs. 46.5%, p = .036). The incidence did not significantly differ between respective groups when various variables were evaluated by other characteristics of the participants, adherence to ISC procedures, and complications. On multivariable analysis, male gender and stocks of antibiotics were significant independent factors for sUTI. CONCLUSIONS: Male gender and stocks of antibiotics were associated with sUTI in persons with SCL who were performing ISC with single-use catheters.

Comparison of early and late removal of the urinary catheter after rectal cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aiming to compare the results of early and late removal of urinary catheters after rectal cancer surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who undergone rectal cancer surgery in a single center were included in this prospective randomized study. The timing of the urinary catheter removal was randomized by a computer-assisted program and divided into 2 groups, which are early (first 48 h) and late (after 48 h). The primary outcome of this study was to compare the urinary retention and re-catheterization rates between patients with early and those with late catheter removal. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included in this study. The median age was 60 (31-88 years), and the patient group was predominantly male (n: 40, 60.9%). Urinary retention after catheter removal developed in 8 (12%) of 66 patients. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of the need for re-catheterization (14% vs. 10%, p: 0.63). All the patients who required re-catheterization (n: 8) and were discharged with a urinary catheter (n: 4) were male. When the male and female patients were evaluated separately, there was no difference in urinary retention in the early or late groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early or late removal of the catheter does not play a role in the development of urinary retention in patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery.

OBJETIVO: Comparar los resultados de la retirada precoz y tardía de la sonda urinaria tras la cirugía de cáncer rectal. MÉTODO: Estudio prospectivo aleatorizado que incluyó pacientes sometidos a cirugía de cáncer rectal en un único centro. El momento de la retirada de la sonda urinaria se aleatorizó y se dividió en dos grupos: primeras 48 horas y después de 48 horas. Se compararon las tasas de retención urinaria y de nueva cateterización entre los pacientes con retirada precoz y tardía de la sonda. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 66 pacientes, con una mediana de edad de 60 años (31-88 años) y predominio del sexo masculino (n = 40, 60.9%). Se produjo retención urinaria tras la retirada de la sonda en 8 (12%). No hubo diferencias entre los dos grupos en cuanto a necesidad de nueva cateterización (14% frente a 10%, p = 0.63). Todos los pacientes que precisaron un nuevo cateterismo (n = 8) y fueron dados de alta con una sonda urinaria (n = 4) eran varones. CONCLUSIONES: La retirada precoz o tardía de la sonda no influye en la aparición de retención urinaria en pacientes intervenidos de cáncer de recto.

Urinary Catheter-Related Meatal Pressure Injury Risk Factors in Male Critical Care Patients: A Prospective Repeated-Measures Study.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary catheter-related meatal pressure injury (UCR-MPI) is a preventable and serious complication of indwelling urinary catheter use. This prospective study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of UCR-MPI in male critical care patients. METHODS: A total of 138 male patients 18 years and older using an indwelling urinary catheter were included in the study. Participants' perineal areas were assessed daily for the development of MPI. RESULTS: The UCR-MPI prevalence was 26.1% (n = 36/138). Most patients (61.1%) had a grade I UCR-MPI with intact skin and mucosa and nonblanchable erythema. Urinary catheter irrigation (P = .001), lower Braden Scale scores (P = .040), lower Glasgow Coma Scale score (P = .002), higher Itaki Fall Risk Scale score (P = .040), higher dependency level (P = .027), hypoalbuminemia (P = .002), and perineal edema (P = .001) were risk factors for UCR-MPI. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of UCR-MPI was high in this sample. Providers should take preventive measures to prevent UCR-MPI in patients with a penis including early and frequent risk assessment.

Inappropriate placement of urinary catheters into the ureter: A case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize preventive measures and outline management strategies for inadvertent ureteral cannulation. METHODS: We present a case report and conduct a literature review of 39 case reports on ureteral cannulation, examining a total of 48 patients. RESULTS: About 67% of the cases were female, and long-term catheterization was observed in 67% of the cases. Neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis were the primary factors (48%) in ureteral cannulation. Symptoms included flank pain (46%), fever (31%), oliguria (27%), non-deflatable balloon issues (25%), hematuria (21%), abdominal pain (17%), urine leak (12.5%), and nausea/vomiting (8%). Complications varied, including acute pyelonephritis (35%), acute kidney injury (27%), urosepsis (21%), and ureter rupture (17%). Despite inadvertent catheter placement, 25% of patients had no complications. More than half of the patients (58%) were managed through catheter change, while 27% underwent cysto-ureteroscopy with or without balloon puncture or ureteral stenting. Additionally, 10% received interventional radiology procedures, 6.25% underwent surgical repair, and 4% underwent ultrasound-guided balloon puncture. CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, neurologic conditions, and long-term catheterization were identified as predominant risk factors. Early detection of ureteral cannulation can prevent severe complications, particularly in certain special populations such as patients with neurogenic bladder or SCI, who may have reduced sensation and expression capabilities.

Managing External Urinary Catheters.

This narrative review explores the use of external urinary catheters. These devices are available in various types and materials for male and female patients. The indications for the use of external urinary catheters include managing incontinence linked to overactive bladder and neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Contraindications to the use of external urinary catheters include urinary obstruction. Proper skin care and proactive infection control measures are necessary to prevent complications. The collection of a urine specimen for culture requires a standardized technique to prevent contamination. Clinician-led patient education on catheter management plays a important role in ensuring patient comfort and safety.

[Antibacterial prophylaxis with fosfomycin at the time of the urethral catheter removal after radical prostatectomy (prospective randomized trial)].

AIM: To evaluate the effect of antibacterial prophylaxis using oral fosfomycin during the removal of a urethral catheter after radical prostatectomy on the development of urinary tract infection, severity of leukocyturia and bacteriuria, as well as the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center, non-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial was carried out. The main group included 40 patients, and the control group included 37 patients. In the group 1, patients received two doses of oral fosfomycin, 3 g, namely in the evening on the day of catheter removal (the first dose) and 48 hours after catheter removal (the second dose). In the group 2, patients did not receive any antibacterial prophylaxis after urethral catheter removal. The endpoints of the study were confirmed episodes of urinary tract infection within 1 month after removal of the urethral catheter, leukocyturia and bacteriuria in urinalysis/urine culture) and severity of the lower urinary tract symptoms assessed by IPSS questionnaire. RESULTS: In the group 2, urinary tract infection was noted in 17.1%, while in the group 2 only in 2.6% of patients (p=0.032). Leukocyturia and bacteriuria were significantly less common in the group receiving antibacterial prophylaxis with fosfomycin (18.4% vs. 48.6%, respectively; p=0.006). Positive urine culture was observed in 7.9% vs. 25.7%, respectively (p=0.035). Four weeks after removal of the urethral catheter, the average IPSS score was significantly higher in the group 2 (13.2 vs. 9.5 points; p=0.002). There were no cases of allergic reaction and pseudomembranous colitis associated with C. difficile in both groups. Diarrhea cured with sorbents was noted in 2 patients (5.2%) in fosfomycin group. CONCLUSION: Antibacterial prophylaxis using two oral doses of fosfomycin 3 g on the day of urethral catheter removal and 48 hours after catheter removal after radical prostatectomy appears to be an effective scheme that reduces the incidence of urinary tract infection and the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms, and is characterized by a minimal risk of adverse events. It is necessary to carried out further research and develop clear recommendations for antibacterial prevention in urological interventions requiring prolonged urethral catheterization.

Urinary Catheters: Materials, Coatings, and Recommendations for Selection.

Urinary catheters have been used for more than 3000 years, although materials have changed from wood to silver to rubber. Research continues to try and find the optimal catheter materials, which improve safety and quality of life. Advantages when comparing newer catheter materials are not always obvious but catheters coated with a hydrophilic layer may reduce urethral trauma and the incidence of urinary tract infections. However, extrapolation of the data is limited by lack of end-point standardization and heterogenous populations.

Novel surface biochemical modifications of urinary catheters to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

More than 70% of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections are related to urinary catheters, which are commonly used for the treatment of about 20% of hospitalized patients. Urinary catheters are used to drain the bladder if there is an obstruction in the tube that carries urine out of the bladder (urethra). During catheter-associated urinary tract infections, microorganisms rise up in the urinary tract and reach the bladder, and cause infections. Various materials are used to fabricate urinary catheters such as silicone, polyurethane, and latex. These materials allow bacteria and fungi to develop colonies on their inner and outer surfaces, leading to bacteriuria or other infections. Urinary catheters could be modified to exert antibacterial and antifungal effects. Although so many research have been conducted over the past years on the fabrication of antibacterial and antifouling catheters, an ideal catheter needs to be developed for long-term catheterization of more than a month. In this review, we are going to introduce the recent advances in fabricating antibacterial materials to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections, such as nanoparticles, antibiotics, chemical compounds, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, and plant extracts.

Urinary catheter placement and adverse urinary outcomes with a focus on elevated risk in men with indwelling Foley catheters.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies indicated a link between urinary catheter use and urinary complications, highlighting the need for comprehensive, gender-specific investigations. This study explored the association through a national retrospective cohort, emphasizing gender disparities and long-term outcomes. METHODS: Our study utilized data from the entire population covered by Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 to 2017. We included 148,304 patients who had undergone Foley catheter placement and their propensity-scores matched controls in the study. We evaluated urinary complications, which encompassed urinary tract cancer, urolithiasis, urethral stricture, obstructive uropathy, reflux uropathy, fistula, diverticulum, caruncle, false passage, prolapsed urethral mucosa, urinary tract rupture, and urinary tract infection. These were assessed using the Fine and Gray sub-distribution proportional hazards model to compare between the Foley and non-Foley groups. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with different matching ratios. RESULTS: In the study, the non-Foley group presented a marginally higher mean age (75.24 ± 10.47 years) than the Foley group (74.09 ± 10.47 years). The mean duration of Foley catheterization was 6.1 ± 4.19 years. Men with Foley catheterization exhibited the highest adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratios for urinary tract cancer (6.57, 95% CI: 5.85-7.37), followed by women with Foley catheterization (4.48, 95% CI: 3.98-5.05), and men without catheterization (1.58, 95% CI: 1.39-1.8) in comparison with women without the procedure. Furthermore, men with Foley catheterization were found to be at the greatest risk for complications such as urolithiasis, urethral stricture, obstructive and reflux uropathy, fistula, diverticulum, caruncle, false passage, prolapsed urethral mucosa, and urinary tract rupture. Conversely, women with urinary catheterization were most susceptible to urinary tract infections. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence confirms that urinary catheterization significantly increases urinary complications, particularly among men. Our study underscores the crucial need for healthcare providers to carefully evaluate the necessity of catheterization, aim to shorten its duration whenever feasible, and strictly adhere to established protocols to minimize complications.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of At-Home Catheter Removal After Urogynecologic Surgery.

IMPORTANCE: In-office postoperative voiding trials (VTs) increase health care burden for patients and physicians. Adoption of an at-home VT option may decrease burden without increasing adverse events postoperatively. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare 30-day postoperative outcomes between participants who performed an at-home autofill VT after catheter self-discontinuation during the Assessing Healthcare Utilization and Feasibility of Transurethral Catheter Self-discontinuation (FLOTUS) study and a "historic" control cohort of patients who presented to the office for backfill-assisted VT on postoperative day (POD) 1. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of women with postoperative urinary retention after urogynecologic surgery between June 2020 and March 2022. Outcomes from the FLOTUS study were compared with a "historic" control cohort of patients that were identified on chart review from the year before FLOTUS initiation. Demographic, medical history, and procedure-related data were collected. Thirty-day outcome data included office calls/messages, office visits, emergency department visits, complications, and catheterization outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-six participants were included in the FLOTUS cohort and 65 participants in the historic cohort. There was no difference in the POD1 VT pass rate, number of office calls/messages, emergency department visits, or postoperative complications between the 2 cohorts. The FLOTUS patients attended 1 less office visit (1 vs 2 office visits, P <0.001), and this difference persisted on regression analysis (-0.87 office visits; 95% CI, -1.18 to -0.56, P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients who had backfill-assisted VTs on POD1 attended 1 additional office visit compared with those who removed their catheters at home.