Nursing Management of Catheter Associated Urinarytract Infection

Running head : Nursing management of catheter-associated urinary tract infections

NURSING MANAGEMENT OF CATHETER-ASSOCIATED

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

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Introduction

Urinary tract infections pertain to bacterial infections that occur within the ureter , bladder and urethra . The most common bacterial species associated with urinary tract infections include Escherichia coli , Chlamydia and Mycoplasma , which travel from the urethra to the bladder . Failure to treat a patient may result in the spreading of the infection to the ureter , as well as to the kidneys . In the United

States alone , approximately 8 .3 million physician consultations during 1999 to 2000 were associated with urinary tract infections (CDC , 2004

One of the most common causes of urinary tract infections is the employment of catheters , which are medical devices that are attached to the urethra to assist a patient in discharging urine . This technique is frequently performed on patients who are incapable of voiding urine such as those who are critically ill and geriatric patients (Getliffe Newton , 2006 . In other cases , catheters are attached onto patients who have been diagnosed with disorders of the nervous system , as these individuals have lost their capacity for bladder control . The presence of bacteria in the catheters due to the extended duration of its use often results in urinary tract infections . It is therefore important for healthcare professionals to perform precautionary measures to ensure that catheters would be devoid of microorganisms that could cause infection in the patient . This report will present specific nursing management schemes that...