Cleansing leg/bedside bags

[Clipper]

I'm looking for opinions on methods for cleansing leg and bedside drainage bags. It's been 12 years since I was injured, so I figure there might be some new technique out there. I currently rinse with a capful of bleach mixed with water, followed by another rinse of water only. Any other ideas out there?

[smokey]

I squirt some Windex (with ammonia D of course) into the bag and then run about 300cc. of water in there, shake it and empty. I don't know if it kills any bacteria but it smells better than urine!

[kngtreeman]

i use only a leg bag.i rinse it out with water every morning then squirt hand saop into it fil with water ,shake and drain fill with water shake and drain,i do this until all the saop is outa it.seems to work but the bag only lasts about 2 weeks by then the color of it makes me throw it away.but their isnt a smell

scott r

[SCI-Nurse]

Beleive it or not, nothing has changed in this department. We suggest mild soap and water and rinse well at our facility. A drop of bleach in water and rinse well is fine. We also suggest changing the bedside bag totally once a month.........SAH

[Sue Pendleton]

Smokey......just never mix your Windex (ammonia) with anything containing bleach. The two together make a simple but lethal form of mustard gas.

[SCI-Nurse]

Based on a research study funded by NIH, the following is the recommended cleaning procedure:

1.Drain urine and clamp bag.
2. Fill bag 1/3-1/2 full with plain tap water (we use a small funnel attached to the intake valve with a short length of rubber tubing to make this easier)
3. Vigorously slosh the water around (getting in all the nooks and crannies) for 10 seconds.
4. Drain and repeat with tap water 10 seconds again.
5. Drain water. Close clamp.
6. Fill bag 1/3-1/2 full with 10% bleach solution (for example, 50 cc. of bleach mixed with water to make 500 cc. total).
7. Slosh this solution around in bag vigorously for a full 30 seconds.
8. Drain, leave valve open (to allow air flow). Wrap in a clean towel to protect the connectors. (do not rinse).

This is what we do on our SCI inpatient unit, and we find both bedbags and leg bags stay infection and odor free. We replace all bags monthly. (KLD)

[Chris Chappell]

I hear what SCI nurse is saying according to clinical procedure but I have found that using GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) or Tea Tree Oil - both available in healthfood stores have done a better job for me than bleach. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Lizbv]

I use a bottle to rinse with. It contains half water half vinegar solution. Works good for me.

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

[SCI-Nurse]

Lizbv, I would be reluctant to use vinegar. Years ago we used this, and in a research study where we compared the bleach with the vinegar we found no bacteria growing in the bleach bags, but the vinegar bags grew tons of pseudomonas, which is a common UTI bug in people with SCI, and one commonly associated with stone formation.

Chris, I would hesitate to recommend anything that has not been tested with follow up cultures in a controlled environment, and one advantage of bleach is that it is nearly universally available and very cheap. (KLD)

[Clipper]

Thanks for all your replies. I have two more things to add:

1. If you use bleach, do NOT travel with it on an airplane. It can be a disaster in terms of being a major mess, and it is an illegal substance to carry on a flight. Buy a bottle when you reach your destination.

2. I tape the connection end of my bags into a betadine swipe pouch when not in use. I don't know if this keeps it cleaner or not, but it eases my mind a bit.

Clipper

[Lizbv]

Interesting, SCI-Nurse. I generally have UTI symptoms twice a year. I have a super-a-pubic since 99. Think I've built up a resistance, or a mild amount is always present, I've been told? Of course, I learned I had psudonomous symptoms in 97. I have not been on anything stronger as needed than Cipro since that time.

I'd like your comments. My cathader and bags are changed once a month.

[kattieblue]

I use to cleanse my daughters however the visiting nurse that comes once a month after a hospital stay, told me to throw them away and not take a chance on infection...One told me to cleanse it another says throw it away....So I throw it away. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif

not sure how

DUH!!

[SCI-Nurse]

Kattie, you have an insurance that will buy your daughter a new night bag and new leg bag daily??? Wow! Unheard of in our area, and not necessary. This nurse may not be familiar with the literature that shows that this is not only safe but cost effective esp. in the home setting. (KLD)

[Curt Leatherbee]

Made by the people who make the leg bags. I have used it for years with no problems or odors. It works great.

[Tweetybird]

There were a couple other things I was told. I was told to keep the tubing on the night bags capped when not in use, so bacteria will not enter the bag or tubing. Also I was told after each draining of the bag, to wipe the end with alcohol.

[lilsister]

I always clean the night drng bag with solution of 1 part bleach to 8 parts water, after rinsing twice with water. I think the secret is the vigorous shaking. At discount store I get a couple of plastic drink bottles, they have a wide screw top and also a pourer that flips over to close. Makes it easier to squirt in, and Don't have to mix up so often. I always leave the bag hanging in the shower to drain.

[fuentejps]

i only use a night bag at night and urinal during the day. i change my night bag twice a week and get a clean urinal twice a week as well. and just rinse my urinal eaxch time i use it, and rinse the night bag in the morning.
i wouldnt consider using a night bag more than 3 nights before throwing it out.

[crags]

i believe the correct proportions are 20:1 (water:bleach). rinse with water first, soak for a couple of minutes, rinse after with water, let air dry with valves open

i don't use them anymore, but i used my leg and night bags for 1 month unless they popped a leak. bleach/water kills all, so very freq bag changes probably won't decrease rate of infection

[SCI-Nurse]

Our recommendation is based on several well done research studies. Use 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Rinse well with fresh water twice (slosh it well), then fill with bleach solution, slosh for 30 seconds and drain. Bags are safe for use for up to 1 month this way.

(KLD)

[Lizbv]

I see I posted here in 01. Was just off Medicaid in June, not really used to my new insurance. Well, after getting off Medicaid my options are greater. Now, I can order whatever I want, whenever I want as far as supplies (a few things aren't covered- but most are), and its shipped via next day. Have found great straps, I never knew such great options were available, haha. Also, got huge thing of Urolux, to clean with. Curtis, how do you dilute it? You really don't follow instructions to the t" do you? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif Anyone else use Urolux? What do you put it in after diluting? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Thx.

TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF MY MOJO
More than a Woman

[fuentejps]

Originally posted by Lizbv:

I see I posted here in 01. Was just off Medicaid in June, not really used to my new insurance. Well, after getting off Medicaid my options are greater. Now, I can order whatever I want, whenever I want as far as supplies (a few things aren't covered- but most are), and its shipped via next day. Have found great straps, I never knew such great options were available, haha. Also, got huge thing of Urolux, to clean with. Curtis, how do you dilute it? You really don't follow instructions to the t" do you? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif Anyone else use Urolux? What do you put it in after diluting? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Thx.

TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF MY MOJO
More than a Woman



yah, i guess thats the deciding factor. ive always had private ins, so i have cases of bags, externals, and urinals in the basement. thats why i wouldnt mess around cleaning them

[Hunker]

I can not find any resposes on how to keep your bag dry and also how to keep the reflux valve from sticking together?

[611]

I use 2 leg bags alternating them every other day. I use Dial liquid soap and water. One bag stays full of soapy water. When I come in from work,I empty it and place it with what I'm wearing the next day. Before I leave for work,I fill the bag I wore the day before with soap and water and let it stay until I come in from work.I change bags every 3 mos.

[titanium4motion]

How to keep a leg bag dry?

Easy!

Use two of them!

Use one one day then wash it out and hang to let dry. Then on the second day use another one. Use it, wash it out and on the third day go back to the first one. Rotate them every other day.

Urolux may be good but too expensive. You are just pouring money down the drain. Urolux is quite toxic too. The fumes can cause you to pass out! One bottle of Urolux can buy six gallons of Clorox. One thing Clorox can do that Urolux can't is whiten your clothes when doing the laundry. Clorox even smells good too!

Night bags or bed side bags is a UTI in the making. Never use them. A bed side bag is an environment where bacteria can still live no matter how clean you think you can get them.

Urocare 4100 night bottle is a better night collection container. It has a 2000cc capacity. I clean it out with Clorox the same with my leg bag. It is very hard for bacteria to survive in a night bottle once the water has evaporated after cleaning. I dump the Clorox water into the toilet when done. A white clean toilet everyday!

What I do with the night bottle is heat up a paper clip until it gets red hot and melt a small hole in the lid for a breather hole. Just in case one day you drink too much and you void over 2000cc you wouldn't experience AD during the night. I keep the night bottle in a small bucket just incase it does over fill during the night.

Be careful with Urocare's red valve. Some of them stick together. When I first use a new Urocare product I make sure that little red valve can open. Then it is fine to use.

I drink 5-6 liters of water, coffee, juices and diet pop a day to prevent an UTI.


titanium4motion

[Hunker]

I use 2 leg bags alternating them every other day. I use Dial liquid soap and water. One bag stays full of soapy water. When I come in from work,I empty it and place it with what I'm wearing the next day. Before I leave for work,I fill the bag I wore the day before with soap and water and let it stay until I come in from work.I change bags every 3 mos.
I don't let it stay soapy all day but I will try, I also still notice it wet after a complete day of hanging open. Therefore the valve will stick and when it is tine to "go" I blow a condom every now and then. I should have thought about dial being it is biodegradable. We used it camping.
I also got this thiker more expensive bag and it looks nice but I can not tell much difference. I never heard if the hot pen in the bag thanxs for your ideas and any others.
Matt
BTW I did get a harder leg bag hose that work much better no kinks and has the rigids already made into so I do not need the sten to the condom.

[Riz]

Water and bleach, second rinse with water and vinegar.

[Lizbv]

:D Well, now its 2007.
I've just been rinsing n shaking with H20 for a while now. Try to change bags every couple of weeks or so, or less. My insurance still pays for whatever I order in bags, but now does not pay for Urolux. My SP cath is doing great, get it changed by nurse at urologists office every 5 weeks. no uti. eh, after 10 years i guess i got one more thing figured out w sci.

[Hunker]

So no vinger? KLD thanxs
your the best
matt

[Jack Spratt]

I use 2 leg bags alternating them every other day. I use Dial liquid soap and water. One bag stays full of soapy water. When I come in from work,I empty it and place it with what I'm wearing the next day. Before I leave for work,I fill the bag I wore the day before with soap and water and let it stay until I come in from work.I change bags every 3 mos.

This works well ... but I've noticed the soap sticks the reflux valve after a few days , then I run bleach solution through them and there good again.
The Dial soap keeps them smellin' fresh as daisies !!!