Overview
Introduction
Routine catheter findings include a secured catheter, unobstructed tubing, urine draining into a bag below bladder level, and a patient without new systemic or urinary symptoms.
Routine catheter findings include a secured catheter, unobstructed tubing, urine draining into a bag below bladder level, and a patient without new systemic or urinary symptoms. Document urine output and relevant characteristics according to the care plan, but do not diagnose infection from appearance alone. Suspect symptomatic CAUTI when a patient with a current or recently removed catheter develops a compatible finding without another likely source. Findings may include new fever, rigors, malaise, lethargy, altered mental status, flank pain, costovertebral angle tenderness, acute haematuria, or pelvic discomfort. After catheter removal, dysuria, urgency, frequency, or suprapubic pain may be more apparent. Cloudy, malodorous, or sediment-containing urine is common in catheterized patients and does not independently establish infection. A new symptom pattern, systemic change, examination finding, or deterioration carries more weight than urine appearance. Fever may also arise from pneumonia, a wound, a medication reaction, or another source, so assess the whole patient rather than anchoring on the catheter. Leakage around the catheter can indicate bladder spasm, obstruction, a drainage problem, or displacement. It is not a reason to increase the balloon...