Catheter-associated UTI

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Bladder catheterization, female

Bladder catheterization, male

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection from using tubes (catheters) that drain urine from the body.

UTI - associated with a catheter; Urinary tract infection - associated with a catheter

The presence of a catheter within the urinary tract increases the likelihood of urinary tract infection. It may also increase the difficulty of treating the infection.

If a urinary catheter is left in place for long periods of time, bacteria will inevitably grow in it. A harmful infection may occur if the number of bacteria becomes large or if specific pathologic bacteria grow in the urinary tract.

Review Date: 05/10/2006
Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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