title: Purple urinary bag syndrome: a harmless but alarming problem.
abstract: Patients who are not catheterized may notice a discolouration in their urine or faeces, either occasionally or continually. Such discolouration can usually be put down to waste materials caused by medication or food. However, a comment often made by nurses who see catheterized patients is, 'My patient's drainage bag has turned purple'. Patients with this condition can show no underlying urine infection. It is also noticeable that the longer the drainage bag is used, the deeper the colour purple becomes. Over a period of time this discolouration then impregnates their catheter. This condition also produces a strong odour, and as air temperature increases, so does the smell. This condition is known as purple urinary bag syndrome or PUBS.
authors.affiliation: Continence Advisory Service, Morecambe Bay Primary Health Care Trust NHS, Morecambe.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009812:Odorants; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014364:Tryptophan