How To Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection From A Catheter

The most common risk is that of a urinary tract infection. This is something most people will be faced with regardless of how long the catheter is used. Thankfully there are some simple things you can do that will help to reduce the risks of urinary tract infections occurring. Properly caring for and cleaning the catheter, the drainage bag, and your own personal area after a bowel movement is your best option. When the catheter is inserted, a nurse or your doctor will give you instructions on how to keep the area and all of the parts of the catheter cleaned and disinfected.

It's also important that you are aware of the signs of potential complications that can occur. This will help you to detect the signs early enough to get the proper treatment without much discomfort. Most of them will be easy to recognize.

Blood in the urine, or cloudy or thick urine is the easiest to notice since you can visually see this. If you feel any tenderness around the catheter puncture, have a large amount of leakage, or feel any bladder spasms that don't go away, it's important that you contact your medical provider. These are only a few of the signs you need to look for.

Since there are various types of catheters, you will need to learn about the one you are specifically using. There may be additional risks associated with it and also extra or specialized care you will need to be aware of. The best place to learn this is from your nurse or doctor.

Be sure you follow the steps exactly as your nurse or doctor tells you to. Ask any questions you may have when they are taking you through the steps. This will ensure you are doing everything correctly and you will avoid infection.

Drinking eight to ten glasses of water each day is also very important. It will help to reduce infection, as well as prevent you from becoming constipated. Constipation can lead to leaks in the catheter.

You can also search online to learn more, but it's not a good idea to trust everything you read online about your medical products. You'll want to discuss what you find online with your medical health provider first. There's nothing wrong with looking for advice online, but be careful about following something your medical health provider has not approved of in your individual case.