indwelling cath problems

bunches · 03-17-2005, 01:42 PM

Wondering if there is any alternative for people who are having UTIs with an indwelling catheter but are unable to cath themselves.

Tweetybird · 03-17-2005, 10:05 PM

Although I cannot come up with another substitution for the foley, I have found a something that does work for me, acetic acid irrigations.
I have an indwelling uretheral catheter and I was starting to have trouble with infections. My doctor has prescribed daily irrigations with 30cc of acetic acid. This seems to be helping me at present.
I found the worst time for UTI's was shortly after a catheter change. My bladder becomes irritated, and produces alot of mucus. This irritation often lead to the way of an infection. Although I take cranberry capsules, I needed more acidity, and the acetic acid helped alot. It also seems to reduce the amount of sediment that my bladder creates. I would talk with your doctor about it.
Hope you can get the UTI's under control, and feel better.

SCI-Nurse · 03-18-2005, 08:22 AM

There are lots of options- depending on what the cause of the UTI is, what your symptoms are, have you been treated with in the past and with what, are irrigations an option, have you tried the nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter in the past?

JM

bunches · 03-18-2005, 02:58 PM

I have really good feeling and can feel pain around my catheter and discomfort in my lower stomach. I have been treated quite often with antibiotics the past six months. I have been on three different ones I can remember for different occasions of UTI's. I am afraid I am becoming resistant to them as well. How many different types of antibiotics are out there? I don't want to be taking them, but I am just not getting rid of the UTI's without them. What is a nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter? Are there better ways than others for cleaning out leg bags and night bags? If you don't treat UTI's will they eventually just go away? I would like some positive news. Thanks for your help.

Tweetybird · 03-18-2005, 10:05 PM

A nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter, is just that, a foley catheter that has been impregnated this substance so it is leached out into the urine and into the bladder. This "washes" the bladder with this substance. Also it discourages bacteria from growning on the catheter itself. There are also foley catheters that have a coating made up of silver, which also acts as an antibiotic, or antiseptic. I think it makes a colloidal silver solution in our bladders, and also prevents bacterial growth on the catheter itself, also. Since it is in our bladders and not entering our system it is relativly safe.

As far as cleaning out legbags and night bags are concerned, I use the method discribed by one of the hyperlinks given here. I use a 10% clorine bleach solution to wash them out, sloshing it thouroughly. It is soaked for about 15 minutes and then rinsed out with clear water. I then cap it off, be sure the bag has fully drained, close and let dry. I am sure the outside is well rinsed off as well as you do not want to get the bleach on your clothing.

I have found that if you do not treat UTI's they will just get worse, and boy do you feel ROTTON!! It can progress up into the kidneys. Before it reaches your system, and is in the kidneys, it can cause them alot of damage. When the infection becomes systemic, you then have developed sepsis. At this point, it can lead to death. UTI's are not only miserable, but nothing top play with.
I have had several UTI's that have been successfully treated, but at some point I became colonized but not symptomatic. They do not treat colonization, but rather only treat when there are syptoms of fever, malase, pain,and you develop cloudy urine and pass lots of mucus. Then you are treated for a UTI. They will take a urine sample, but it is to determine the type of bacteria, and dermine which antibiotic the bacteria is responsive to.

As far as the comfort of the catheter is concerned, there are sveral possablilities. When you first start using a foley, if you have sensation, there is an adjustment period of about a month. Then after that, after every change, you will have about a day for it to settle. If this is not the case, could you have a to large a french size? This caused a couple of people I know alot of discomfort. Normally they start at a 14 fr, but I found I had to start with a 12 fr. I then had to move up to a 14fr. Is the balloon size a 5ml bulb, or is it larger? You should use the smallest size that keeps the catheter in place. I find that even though I have sensation, I now do not even feel the catheter, except when it is tugged on (which is not advisable or comfortable). Also, are you using a latex or a silicone catheter. The silicone catheters are easier on your urethera, and have a 30% larger lumin for the same french size. Also, latex has a tendency to swell some in the urethera which makes it very uncomfortable. I would advise using only 100% silicone. There are also some foleys with a hydrogel coating that is more comfortable also, as it makes it an even more slipery surface.

The latex products that are produced today, which includes catheters, are not manufactured in the US as they once were. They are now made in places like Indonesia and Malasia. Although the raw latex is of good quality, it is not as well processed as it onece was here in the US. There are impuities and toxins that naturally occur in rubber that is not removed completely in the processing done in these countries. They have caused a marked increase in latex alergy that can be so severe that it induces anaphylactic shock. Nothing I want to experience. With alergies, frequent exposures can increase the chanses for it, and the severeity of the reaction.

Please if I need correction on my information let me know, as I do nnt wisdh to give out misinformation, and always willing to learn more.

offthahook · 03-18-2005, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tweetybird:

Although I cannot come up with another substitution for the foley, I have found a something that does work for me, acetic acid irrigations.
I have an indwelling uretheral catheter and I was starting to have trouble with infections. My doctor has prescribed daily irrigations with 30cc of acetic acid. This seems to be helping me at present.
I found the worst time for UTI's was shortly after a catheter change. My bladder becomes irritated, and produces alot of mucus. This irritation often lead to the way of an infection. Although I take cranberry capsules, I needed more acidity, and the acetic acid helped alot. It also seems to reduce the amount of sediment that my bladder creates. I would talk with your doctor about it.
Hope you can get the UTI's under control, and feel better.

You mean renacidin?? Acetic acid is not recommended anymore.

Building a house; check it out

jennypenny · 04-14-2005, 04:07 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tweetybird:

A nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter, is just that, a foley catheter that has been impregnated this substance so it is leached out into the urine and into the bladder. This "washes" the bladder with this substance. Also it discourages bacteria from growning on the catheter itself.....There are also foley catheters that have a coating made up of silver, which also acts as an antibiotic, or antiseptic. (END OF QUOTE)

where do you find these catheters?
I live in Indiana but can certainly order them thru the mail if I have to...

Tweetybird · 04-14-2005, 10:29 PM

I know that you can order the silver impregnated ones through Alegro medical. I would just carefully search through the catheters they have, but I have not seem the nitrofurantoin impregnated ones on line. You might search under "nitrofurantoin impregnated catheters" under google.

jennypenny · 04-18-2005, 12:24 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tweetybird:

A nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter, is just that, a foley catheter that has been impregnated this substance so it is leached out into the urine and into the bladder.
(/QUOTE]

I'm assuming you use these catheters...which type (nitro. or silver) & for how long? how much did they help? I'm desperate for a solution.....

SCI-Nurse · 04-18-2005, 12:39 PM

Both nitrofurantoin and silver coated indwelling catheters have been around for a number of years. While they have been shown to be effective in decreasing UTIs for those who use an indwelling catheter for a short period, no studies have been done that have followed patients more than 20 days, so it is unclear if these will reduce colonization or infection in people with SCI who use indwelling catheters long term. They are fairly expensive too.

If you want to try them, Bard makes the silver coated Bardex IC Foley catheter, and Rochester makes a nitrofurantoin coated silacone Foley catheter called the Release-NF.

(KLD)

03-17-2005, 01:42 PM	#1
bunches Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 7	indwelling cath problems Wondering if there is any alternative for people who are having UTIs with an indwelling catheter but are unable to cath themselves.

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03-17-2005, 10:05 PM	#2
Tweetybird Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Berkley, MA 02779 Posts: 562	Although I cannot come up with another substitution for the foley, I have found a something that does work for me, acetic acid irrigations. I have an indwelling uretheral catheter and I was starting to have trouble with infections. My doctor has prescribed daily irrigations with 30cc of acetic acid. This seems to be helping me at present. I found the worst time for UTI's was shortly after a catheter change. My bladder becomes irritated, and produces alot of mucus. This irritation often lead to the way of an infection. Although I take cranberry capsules, I needed more acidity, and the acetic acid helped alot. It also seems to reduce the amount of sediment that my bladder creates. I would talk with your doctor about it. Hope you can get the UTI's under control, and feel better.

03-18-2005, 08:22 AM	#3
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,520	There are lots of options- depending on what the cause of the UTI is, what your symptoms are, have you been treated with in the past and with what, are irrigations an option, have you tried the nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter in the past? JM

03-18-2005, 02:58 PM	#4
bunches Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 7	I have really good feeling and can feel pain around my catheter and discomfort in my lower stomach. I have been treated quite often with antibiotics the past six months. I have been on three different ones I can remember for different occasions of UTI's. I am afraid I am becoming resistant to them as well. How many different types of antibiotics are out there? I don't want to be taking them, but I am just not getting rid of the UTI's without them. What is a nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter? Are there better ways than others for cleaning out leg bags and night bags? If you don't treat UTI's will they eventually just go away? I would like some positive news. Thanks for your help.

03-18-2005, 10:05 PM	#5
Tweetybird Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Berkley, MA 02779 Posts: 562	A nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter, is just that, a foley catheter that has been impregnated this substance so it is leached out into the urine and into the bladder. This "washes" the bladder with this substance. Also it discourages bacteria from growning on the catheter itself. There are also foley catheters that have a coating made up of silver, which also acts as an antibiotic, or antiseptic. I think it makes a colloidal silver solution in our bladders, and also prevents bacterial growth on the catheter itself, also. Since it is in our bladders and not entering our system it is relativly safe. As far as cleaning out legbags and night bags are concerned, I use the method discribed by one of the hyperlinks given here. I use a 10% clorine bleach solution to wash them out, sloshing it thouroughly. It is soaked for about 15 minutes and then rinsed out with clear water. I then cap it off, be sure the bag has fully drained, close and let dry. I am sure the outside is well rinsed off as well as you do not want to get the bleach on your clothing. I have found that if you do not treat UTI's they will just get worse, and boy do you feel ROTTON!! It can progress up into the kidneys. Before it reaches your system, and is in the kidneys, it can cause them alot of damage. When the infection becomes systemic, you then have developed sepsis. At this point, it can lead to death. UTI's are not only miserable, but nothing top play with. I have had several UTI's that have been successfully treated, but at some point I became colonized but not symptomatic. They do not treat colonization, but rather only treat when there are syptoms of fever, malase, pain,and you develop cloudy urine and pass lots of mucus. Then you are treated for a UTI. They will take a urine sample, but it is to determine the type of bacteria, and dermine which antibiotic the bacteria is responsive to. As far as the comfort of the catheter is concerned, there are sveral possablilities. When you first start using a foley, if you have sensation, there is an adjustment period of about a month. Then after that, after every change, you will have about a day for it to settle. If this is not the case, could you have a to large a french size? This caused a couple of people I know alot of discomfort. Normally they start at a 14 fr, but I found I had to start with a 12 fr. I then had to move up to a 14fr. Is the balloon size a 5ml bulb, or is it larger? You should use the smallest size that keeps the catheter in place. I find that even though I have sensation, I now do not even feel the catheter, except when it is tugged on (which is not advisable or comfortable). Also, are you using a latex or a silicone catheter. The silicone catheters are easier on your urethera, and have a 30% larger lumin for the same french size. Also, latex has a tendency to swell some in the urethera which makes it very uncomfortable. I would advise using only 100% silicone. There are also some foleys with a hydrogel coating that is more comfortable also, as it makes it an even more slipery surface. The latex products that are produced today, which includes catheters, are not manufactured in the US as they once were. They are now made in places like Indonesia and Malasia. Although the raw latex is of good quality, it is not as well processed as it onece was here in the US. There are impuities and toxins that naturally occur in rubber that is not removed completely in the processing done in these countries. They have caused a marked increase in latex alergy that can be so severe that it induces anaphylactic shock. Nothing I want to experience. With alergies, frequent exposures can increase the chanses for it, and the severeity of the reaction. Please if I need correction on my information let me know, as I do nnt wisdh to give out misinformation, and always willing to learn more.

04-14-2005, 04:07 PM	#7
jennypenny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indpls, IN USA Posts: 127	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tweetybird: A nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter, is just that, a foley catheter that has been impregnated this substance so it is leached out into the urine and into the bladder. This "washes" the bladder with this substance. Also it discourages bacteria from growning on the catheter itself.....There are also foley catheters that have a coating made up of silver, which also acts as an antibiotic, or antiseptic. (END OF QUOTE) where do you find these catheters? I live in Indiana but can certainly order them thru the mail if I have to...

04-14-2005, 10:29 PM	#8
Tweetybird Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Berkley, MA 02779 Posts: 562	I know that you can order the silver impregnated ones through Alegro medical. I would just carefully search through the catheters they have, but I have not seem the nitrofurantoin impregnated ones on line. You might search under "nitrofurantoin impregnated catheters" under google.

04-18-2005, 12:24 PM	#9
jennypenny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indpls, IN USA Posts: 127	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tweetybird: A nitrofurantoin impregnated catheter, is just that, a foley catheter that has been impregnated this substance so it is leached out into the urine and into the bladder. (/QUOTE] I'm assuming you use these catheters...which type (nitro. or silver) & for how long? how much did they help? I'm desperate for a solution.....

04-18-2005, 12:39 PM	#10
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,520	Both nitrofurantoin and silver coated indwelling catheters have been around for a number of years. While they have been shown to be effective in decreasing UTIs for those who use an indwelling catheter for a short period, no studies have been done that have followed patients more than 20 days, so it is unclear if these will reduce colonization or infection in people with SCI who use indwelling catheters long term. They are fairly expensive too. If you want to try them, Bard makes the silver coated Bardex IC Foley catheter, and Rochester makes a nitrofurantoin coated silacone Foley catheter called the Release-NF. (KLD)