Adult urinary catheterisation and catheter care

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Equipment required for Catheterisation
   1. Cleaning solutions
   2. Sterile water for balloon inflation
   3. Use of lubricants for male and female catheterization
3. Gaining consent for urinary catheterisation
   1. Support and information required
4. Summary
5. References

Cleaning solutions

There is no evidence that using antiseptic solutions for meatal cleansing prior to catheterisation help to reduce the incidence of catheter acquired urinary tract infections (NICE, 2012).

There are few studies investigating this aspect of care so guidelines are based on expert opinion (NICE, 2012). Sterile normal saline is normally used in clinical practice to clean the urethral meatus, but this is a simple mechanical clean only to remove any blood clots, mucus or tissue debris from around the meatus prior to catheter insertion.