title: Limitations of urinary pH monitoring in long-term catheter users.
abstract: Weekly measurement of urinary pH has become a standard part of long-term catheter management in many parts of the UK. The common problem of catheter encrustation is caused by urease-producing bacteria which also tend to produce alkaline urine. To determine if urinary pH changes in individual catheter users provided enough information for pH monitoring to aid in catheter management, an analysis of the literature was combined with a study of the urinary pH and catheter blockage patterns in 20 catheter users colonized with urease-producing bacteria. It was found that weekly pH measurement does not aid in the diagnosis or management of catheter encrustation. As such, this practice cannot be recommended.
authors.affiliation: BioMed Centre, Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fraczyk
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D018441:Biofilms; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003460:Crystallization; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D014510:Urease