Chronic indwelling foley catheter, a risk factor for catheter associated urinary tract infection.

Catheter associated infection is one of commonest infection which affects hospital admitted patients. Indwelling urethral catheters which are kept in place for 30 days or less are called short term. Whereas, when catheter placement exceeds 30 days, it is known as chronic or long term. Objectives: This study was intended to investigate the frequency of urinary tract infection caused by chronic indwelling urethral catheters. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Urology & Renal Transplantation, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: 6 months between 01-12-2015 to 31-05-2016. Material & Methods: Informed consent was taken from all the 100 patients which were selected for the research purpose. Under aseptic conditions, indwelling urethral catheter was replaced. The Foley catheter tip which we had taken out was cut and separated. It was delivered to the pathologist for culture and sensitivity in a secured axenic container. Diabetes was ruled out using blood sugar fasting levels. Data was recorded using a proforma. Results: In our study, out of 100 cases with chronic supra-pubic or urethral Foley catheter, 53% cases (n=53) were aged below 50 years while 47% (n=47) were aged above 50 years. Furthermore, 95% patients (n=95) were men and only 5% (n=5) were women. 18% participants of our study were recorded to have urinary infection associated with chronic catheterization. Conclusion: We found that urinary infection affects the patients having chronic indwelling urethral catheters significantly. Therefore, it is justified to assess every patient having urethral catheter for possible urinary infection.