How often should you empty a catheter bag?

[sister s]

Our ward protocol says that IDC bags should be emptied at the end of each shift. One of my colleagues says that she was taught at uni' only to empty the bags when necessary because opening a bag to empty it is creating an unnecessary portal of entry for possible infectious bugs. Our ward manager said that if she can provide evidence of this theory then the ward protocol would be reviewed. However, she can't find any literature to support her arguement.

It sounds plausible to me. What does anyone else out there think, and is there anyone who can direct me to a study or some literature to support her arguement?

[RNperdiem, RN]

I'm not sure if there is a study to back up the infection control issue.

Leaving the next shift with an empty bag is one of those unspoken rules of nursing etiquette.

A full and heavy bag is not a good idea on transports or getting patients out of bed either.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Q shift and prn is the rule here.

[BeachBayNurse]

I work 12 hour shifts, so I empty them at least once a shift. However, I usually empty them also four hours into the shift so I can have some kind of idea how much output the patient is producing.

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

We use electronic catheter systems on most of our unit patients, so if it's less than half full (like a renal or soon-to-be-renal patient) we often don't empty it.

But usually it's q shift, or more if necessary.

[sunny261]

I used to work in ICU and PACU. We would empty the foley bags at least every 4 hours..patients who needed more close monitoring were on urometers to monitor hourly outputs. 30ml urine in an hour in PACU used to be the rule. Pacu we would empty the foley prior to their transfer to wherever they were going for accurate I&O's.