Urinary catheters: selection, management and prevention of infection.

Urinary catheterization is a common procedure for both hospital and community patients. Nurses make many of the decisions in regard to both catheter selection and subsequent catheter care. These decisions, for example, in the type of catheterization (intermittent, indwelling, urethral or suprapubic) should be made on an informed basis. Choosing the optimum catheter material and size can benefit catheter care. Encrustation can be a problem for some catheterized patients and nurses are often involved in trying to prevent or treat it. This and other aspects of catheter management including infection control, constipation and meatal hygiene are discussed.