What do you use to sterilize your hands to cath

[flying]

Well 9.5 months later I'm finally running funning out of Avagard D that I managed to round up from rehab. Have been using it on my hands and head before every cath. What else do people use. Do some people wash there hands every time? Theres got to be an easer way, or at least a cheaper one. Thanks

[jschism]

baby wipes to clean cath area and germx on hands, I don't always wash hands. Ky for lube. No UTI in almost 4 years of injury, 2 of which I used the same 6 caths and washed them and reused.

[gjnl]

Clean Intermittent Cath technique calls for washing your hands with soap and water. But what does washing your hands mean. The CDC has suggested washing your hands for as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday three times to be sure they are clean. Think about watching a surgeon scrub before putting on sterile gloves to perform surgery. They even use nail brushes. That said, you should be fine to cath if you wash and rinse your hands thoroughly.

Some members have posted that they wash their hands, then rub them down with alcohol (this has got to harsh on the skin). Others have posted that they use Vetericyn on their hands and on the head of the penis. Others have said they wash their hands and head of penis with soap and water, then use a swab of betadine on the head of the penis before inserting the catheter. Still others have mentioned hand sanitizers.

It comes down to preference as long as your hands are clean.

All the best,
GJ

[t8burst]

I wipe my hands and unit with Benzalkonium wipes.

[sjean423]

I generally just wash my hands, or use baby wipes depending on whether a sink is available. It seems to be enough for me.

[rdf]

Soap and water at home. I use what Brad uses when I'm outta da house.

Originally Posted by t8burst

I wipe my hands and unit with Benzalkonium wipes.

[wtf]

soap and hot water works best for me.

[SCI-Nurse]

Well, first of all it is impossible to sterilize (remove all germs) from skin. The best you can do is significantly reduce the number of bacteria, but hands are never going to be sterile. If they were, surgeons would not need to wear sterile gloves after scrubbing in for surgery. Surgical instruments can be sterilized but this is done with steam heat or the use of very toxic chemicals.

Research has shown that properly done, with warm water and vigorous scrubbing for at least 15 seconds, soap and water is one of the best ways to clean hands. Next best is to use an alcohol-based hand cleaner that contains at least 60% alcohol. By the way, the latter is NOT effective for c. diff. Soap and water is preferred for that.

When doing clean technique intermittent cath, baby wipes, soap and water, or alcohol-based hand cleaner are all fine.

Studies have shown that hand cleaning and even the use of sterile catheters are less important factors in development of UTIs in those who do self cath than 1) cathing often enough (every 4-6 hours), 2) avoiding overdistension (less than 425cc per cath) and 3) keeping bladder/detrusor pressures down in the safe zone (below 40 mm. Hg.).

(KLD)

[jschism]

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

Studies have shown that hand cleaning and even the use of sterile catheters are less important factors in development of UTIs in those who do self cath than 1) cathing often enough (every 4-6 hours), 2) avoiding overdistension (less than 425cc per cath) and 3) keeping bladder/detrusor pressures down in the safe zone (below 40 mm. Hg.).

(KLD)

if this posted on home page permanently, this topic wouldn't keep coming up. Problem is we aren't taught this, they emphasis on "clean" and I see so many more concerned about how to cath rather than doing it often enough.

[gac3rd]

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

Studies have shown that hand cleaning and even the use of sterile catheters are less important factors in development of UTIs in those who do self cath than 1) cathing often enough (every 4-6 hours), 2) avoiding overdistension (less than 425cc per cath) and 3) keeping bladder/detrusor pressures down in the safe zone (below 40 mm. Hg.).

(KLD)

I went for decades with very careful soap and water washing when soap and water was available. I was blessed to be in many situations where they were not when I was able to roam out and about in the great American west. There were no more infections during these adventures than at home.

This lead to doing nothing unless my hands are dirty from garage or yard work. In that case a good soap and water wash. After reading around here, I started (mostly, but not always, and never while traveling) spraying the head of my penis with over the counter hydrogen peroxide.

My caths get a Clorox dip (couple tablespoons or so per gallon of water) and clean water rinse before use. This also rinses my finger tips that touch the cath, but not much. After use it is a soapy sponge swipe (probably introduces more bacteria than it removes, but it gets the Surgilube off), and then a Clorox dip, and then air dry.

The cath is changed about once a month on the months that I remember to do it.

Cathing 5 ~ 6 times a day is my normal. Probably less than 300 ~ 400 cc per cath, but sometimes more. More for the first void of the morning on most mornings.

No infections for a long time. Years.

I think the nurse hit it above, but everyone is different. Some seem to be able to get infections by looking at a catheter.