Localization of Urinary Tract Infection In Catheterized Adults Patients: Experience With The Bladder Washout Technique

Abstract

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection is a nosocomial infection acquired by patients admitted into hospitals who are catheterized for various reasons. The prevalence of CAUTI varies between 10.5 to 35% in previous studies done in Europe.  Although perceived to be one of the commonest nosocomial infections in our hospitals, local studies on its prevalence and site of infection are sparse in Nigeria., Catheterization is a common procedure in the hospital environment and many in-patients are routinely catheterized for a number of reasons, the general impression is that most of CAUTI are localized to the bladder as patients tend to have few classical symptoms of upper urinary tract infection.

This study aims at determining the prevalence of CAUTI in patients admitted to our Hospital and to localize the sites of infection using the Bladder Wash Out technique.

Methodology

A cross-sectional descriptive study of 226 catheterized subjects recruited over 6 months Bladder washout technique was used to localize the site of infection, and cultures of the collected urine were performed using standard laboratory techniques.

Results

A total of 226 catheterized patients were studied. There were 144 (64%) males and 80 (36%). 118 (52.2%) had CAUTI. Prevalence in males was 81.4% while it was 18.6% in females who had CAUTI. The prevalence of Upper UTI was 42.4%., this prevalence was seen more commonly in males with (88%) and (12%) in female respectively.

Conclusion

The study showed a higher prevalence of CAUTI in Hospitalized patients in LASUTH. Contrary to previously held opinion, majority of the infections were upper Urinary Tract infections. Increased duration of an indwelling catheter is a major risk factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infections.