Catheter care and infection control

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Catheter Care and Infection Control
   1. Meatal Cleansing
   2. Managing drainage systems
   3. Catheter Valves
   4. Taking catheter specimens of urine
   5. Catheter Care Bundles
   6. Troubleshooting catheter problems
   7. Bypassing
   8. Encrustation and blockage
3. Summary
4. References

Taking catheter specimens of urine

Catheter specimens of urine (CSU) should only be taken when clinically indicated, e.g. if the patient has signs of symptomatic urinary tract infection.

Task 7

1

What technique should be followed to obtain a CSU? Enter your answer in the box below and then select Check answer. Samples should only be taken via the sample port and never from the urine drainage bag. The sample port may have bacteria on the surface so should be cleaned with an alcohol wipe or hard surface disinfectant and allowed to dry before the sample is taken. The specimen should then be taken using a sterile syringe and needle, or syringe alone if using a needle-free sample port.