[One-day prevalence study of catheterized patients at a university general hospital. The SIUMAR project].

OBJECTIVES

This prevalence study analyzed urinary catheter use during a day in the Hospital Universitario del Mar of Barcelona. Furthermore, we investigated the indication and duration of urinary catheterization, the presence of urinary infection and the use of antibiotics.

METHODS

All hospitalized patients were included in the study and all pertinent data were obtained from patient clinical history from every department.

RESULTS

Overall, 14.75% of the patients were catheterized. The surgical departments showed a higher incidence (18%) than the other departments (14%). The catheter was indwelling for a median of 12.5 days and was frequently indicated for diuresis control (49.1%), 74.5% of the patients were catheterized at the hospital, 20% of these patients were febrile and had a positive urine culture, and only 14.5% had other infectious foci and a negative urine culture.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no clear indication for catheterization in a high percentage of catheterized patients, which emphasized the need for continuous evaluation of catheter use. Antibiotics were used in excess in catheterized patients, the quinolones and the last generation of cephalosporins being the most widely utilized. The indiscriminate use of these potent antibiotics can cause undesired effects and increase hospital costs.