title: A comparison of open and closed catheterization techniques in rehabilitation patients.
abstract: An effective method was sought to decrease the incidence of urinary tract infections acquired by hospitalized rehabilitation patients requiring catheterization. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in the incidence of urinary tract infections that occurred following use of two types of intermittent catheterization techniques: open catheterization and closed catheterization. The incidence of infection in both the control (open catheterization) and experimental (closed catheterization) groups was analyzed. In the control group, 9 of 14 patients (5 stroke, 4 spinal cord injured [SCI]) completed all four urine tests. Two patients developed a 20,000 colony count of enterococcus on the fourth urine sample using open catheterization. In the experimental group, 11 (4 stroke, 7 SCI) out of 16 patients maintained colony counts below 100,000 organisms per ml; one patient had a 16,000 colony count using closed catheterization. Qualitative data revealed that patients had a positive response to the closed system.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: O Z
authors.initials: OZ
authors.lastname: Riggin
mesh_terms: D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000451:nursing*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology