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Catheter-associated UTI



Bladder catheterization, female
Bladder catheterization, female
Bladder catheterization, male
Bladder catheterization, male


Catheter-associated UTI

Definition:

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection such as a bladder infection that is associated with the use of catheters used to drain urine from the body.


Alternative Names:
UTI - associated with a catheter; Urinary tract infection - associated with a catheter
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:


The presence of a catheter within the urinary tract increases the likelihood of urinary tract infection. It may also increase the difficulty of treating the infection.

If a urinary catheter is left in place for long periods of time, bacteria will inevitably grow in it. A harmful infection may occur if the number of bacteria becomes large or if specific pathologic bacteria grow in the urinary tract.




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