Overcoming Catheter-Associated UTI

The incidence of UTI is second only to respiratory infections. Among hospitalised patients about 80 % of urinary tract infections are catheter-associated. The catheter irritates the bladder, causing spasm of the detrusor muscle, resulting in leakage of urine. Leakage of urine promotes colonisation and associated urinary tract infections. Female sex and presence of a catheter are risk factors for catheter-associated bacteriuria. rinary.tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year. Their preponder-ance is second only to respiratory infections. In 1997, urinary tract infections (UTIs) accounted for about8.3 million doctor visits.1 Women are especially prone to UTIs, one woman in five developing a UTI during her lifetime. UTIs in men are not so common, but they can be very serious when they do occur.1 Acute infections of the urinary tract can be subdivided into two general anatomic categories: lower tract infection (ure-thritis, prostatitis and cystitis) and uppertract infection (acute pyelonephritis, and intrarenal and perinephric abscesses). Infections at these various sites may occur together or independently and may either be asymptomatic or present as certain clinical syndromes. Infections of the urethra and bladder are often considered superficial (or mucosal) infec-tions, while prostatitis, pyelonephritis, and renal suppuration signify tissue invasion.2 PEOPLE AT RISK Some people are more prone to getting a UTI than others. Any abnormality of the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine (a kidney stone, for example) sets the stage for an infection. An enlarged prostate gland also can slow the flow of urine, thus raising the risk of infection.1 A common source of nosocomial UTI is catheters. Bacteria on the catheter can infect the bladder, so catheterised patients run a high risk of contracting UTI.1 People with diabetes are also at risk because of changes in the immune system. Any disorder that suppresses the immune system raises the risk of a urinary infection. 1 UTIs may also occur in infants who are born with abnormali