Care of the indwelling urinary catheter: is it evidence based?
This article reviews evidence-based practice guidelines for the care of indwelling urinary catheters in acute, long-term, and home care settings. Upon completion of this reading, the clinician will have a better understanding of urinary catheter management of short-term and long-term placement, possible complications from catheter use, the importance of alternative options for catheter placement, and recommendations for patient education. Basic infection prevention, existing catheter types, and the differences between men and women with the use of these catheters will also be addressed. Practices that are no longer recommended, as well as present research on the use of silver alloy catheters and their role in preventing infection, are summarized.
Cochran
Sandra
S
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. slc66@comcast.net
D000208:Acute Disease; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control