NSG 6999 Week Discussion: Indwelling catheters
PICOT study
Indwelling catheters are used in helping manage patient elimination especially when bed ridden or in acute conditions. They are commonly used in ward patient management and currently there are many studies that have been conducted indicating complications with continued use (Nicolle 2016). At times they are used without proper indications and hygiene standards as well as for longer periods of time than required. Thus, in some situations the most appropriate way to prevent that is through use of other alternatives such as external sheath condoms, suprapubic catheters, protective garment, and intermittent catheterization.
There are several nursing considerations that should be made to prevent complication with catheter insertion. Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common hospital acquired infections hence need for effective management to prevent the occurrence. One of the best ways to prevent the infections is the use of evidence based practices (Umer et al.,2016). The primary evidence based practice for the prevention is the management of the duration of catheter inserted. Additionally, there is the use of the smallest antimicrobial impregnated catheter, proper documentation to manage the period of catheterization, regular check-ups and a reminder system that warns the physicians on checking on the patients.
The CAUTIs account for more than 80% of the hospital acquired infections and thus through proper management the nurses and physicians can reduce the risk of occurrence. They should be used when most appropriate and needed and not just for the sake. Extreme care should be considered when securing the catheter and the period of use should be properly assessed to prevent prolonged use. According to the recent studies on the infections, most of the patients on hospitals are those with the catheters. Among the patients in 66 European hospitals, 17.5% of the patients were having catheters. In the US, 23.6% of the patients had indwelling catheters in 183 hospitals.
References
Nicolle, L. E. (2016). Catheter Matters. infection control & hospital epidemiology, 37(3), 334- 336.
Umer, A. F. F. A. N., Shapiro, D. S., Hughes, C. H. R. I. S., Ross-Richardson, C. Y. N. T. H. I. A., & Ellner, S. C. O. T. T. (2016). The use of an indwelling catheter protocol to reduce rates of postoperative urinary tract infections. Conn Med, 80(4), 197-203.
