title: Comparison of 2 techniques used to obtain sterile urine specimens from urethral catheters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the rates of urine contamination and the frequencies of minor adverse events between the vacuum tube and injector techniques methods for the collection of sterile urine specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample population was composed of patients who underwent a urodynamics procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed at the urodynamics unit of a rehabilitation and care center in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sterile urine specimens (n = 576) were collected from 144 patients using the vacuum tube technique and the injector technique; the rates of urine contamination and minor adverse events were evaluated. χ2 Statistics and Fisher exact tests were used to assess the contamination rates and frequencies of minor adverse events during the collection of sterile urine specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contamination rate of urine specimens collected using an injector was 0.9% (P > .05). The rate of minor adverse events during specimen collection was lower when using the vacuum technique than when using an injector and sterile urine container (2 vs 36 events, P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vacuum tube technique of urine specimen collection was not superior to the injector technique in regard to contamination. The use of the vacuum tube technique for the collection of sterile urine specimens can prevent minor adverse events related to spillage/leakage of urine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More research from multiple settings and work environments is needed to strengthen the evidence base of vacuum tube technique of sterile urine specimen collection.
authors.affiliation: Fundamentals of Nursing Department, School of Nursing, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. tbasak@gata.edu.tr
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: Senay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uzun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D062885:Urinary Catheters; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology*; D059349:Urine Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D014618:Vacuum; D055815:Young Adult