Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent the second most often observed infectious diseases in community, following the respiratory tract infections. Approximately 40% of nosocomial infections originate in the urinary tract; about 80% of urinary tract infections is related to urinary catheterization. The duration of catheterization is the most important risk factor for development of UTIs and additional risk factors include female sex, diabetes mellitus, renal function impairment, lack of antimicrobial therapy, and not maintaining a closed drainage system. There are many methods for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI); (i) an indwelling catheter should be introduced under antiseptic conditions; (ii) urethral trauma should be minimized by the use of adequate lubricant and the smallest possible catheter; (iii) the catheter system should remain closed; and (iv) the duration of catheterization should be minimal. Antimicrobial urinary catheters can prevent or delay the onset of CAUTI, but the effect on morbidity is not known. Antibiotic treatment is recommended only in symptomatic infection (bacteremia, pyelonephritis, epididymitis, prostatitis), but systemic antimicrobial treatment of asymptomatic CAUTI is only recommended in the following circumstances; (i) patients undergoing urological surgery or implantation of prosthesis; (ii) treatment may be part of a plan to control nosocomial infection due to a particularly virulent organism prevailing in a treatment unit; (iii) patients who have a high risk of serious infectious complications; and (iv) infections caused by strains causing a high incidence of bacteremia.

• Keywords: Urinary catheterization, Urinary tract infection