Caring for a patient with a urinary catheter can seem daunting at first. But by following a few basic rules, daily care becomes easier and the risk of problems such as infection goes down. The advice below is general information; always follow your physician's and nurse's instructions for your patient.
The basics of daily care
Hand hygiene comes first
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after touching the catheter or drainage bag.
Keep the entry site clean
Gently clean the area every day with soap and water; don't use powder or lotion.
Keep the bag below bladder level
This stops urine flowing back. Make sure the bag doesn't touch the floor.
Empty the bag regularly
Empty it before it is full, and don't let the drainage tap touch the container or the floor.
Secure the catheter
Make sure it is secured so it can't be pulled, and that the tubing isn't kinked or folded.
Encourage fluids
Unless your physician has advised a restriction, make sure the patient drinks enough.
Keep the system closed
Don't disconnect the catheter from the bag unless necessary.
Track the change date
Make sure the catheter is changed at the intervals set by your physician.
Signs to report straight away
- Urine stops draining or drops noticeably
- Pain, bloating or pressure in the lower abdomen
- Leakage around the catheter
- Fever or shivering
- Cloudy, foul-smelling or bloody urine
- The catheter comes out
If any of these happen, contact your physician or us. For serious signs such as high fever with confusion, call 112.
Professional support
We support catheter insertion, replacement and care at home. During our visits we also show family members how to carry out daily care.