A urinary catheter is a thin flexible hollow tube that drains urine from the bladder into a drainage bag and is a close system. The catheter is inserted into the bladder either through the urethra (genital area) or through a small hole made in the abdomen (supra pubic). The catheter is held in place by a small balloon filled with sterile water. Each time a break is made in the closed system, e.g. changing a catheter bag, it is an opportunity for infection to be introduced. This policy sets out the practices required to reduce as much as possible, the infection risks involved with catheterisation and catheter use.
A downloadable Community Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Policy which can be adopted by your organisation is also available below. Alternatively, a complete set of IPC Policies is available to purchase @ £89.99, including postage – details can be found on the flyer and resource order form.
Page updated: 14/05/2025
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