Purewick Catheters- Risk for Infection?

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I'm working on an nursing care plan and was wondering- is using a purewick a reason to do Risk for Infection? I know they're less likely to cause infection than a Foley/indwelling catheter.

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Specializes in ED.

Do you have access to a research database like Pubmed, CINAHL, or even Uptodate? I don't know a lot about purewick, so I would start by searching there to try and find information on related UTI risk. That should give you a good idea if there is much infection risk and therefore if it makes sense to be part of your care plan.

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@MotoMonkeyThanks! That's a good idea

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Just recently hospitalized. The staff showed me one of those devices.

NO WAY FOR ME!!!!!

Hooked to wall suction above my head! YUCK!

Confines one to bedrest to be effective!

Needs to be changed every 8 to 12 hours.

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Specializes in ED.

Did you opt for an indwelling catheter?

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Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

Pure wicks are a godsend when they work, just two things I've learned about them:

Educate pt how they work before taking it out in front of them or else's you're liable to freak them out.... "that's going WHERE?"

and use caution when using them with pts with altered LOC. Almost had a PT strangle herself with the tube.

also, they can work on bigger guys with "inny" genitalia better than condom caths.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

to motomonkey - I asked for the foley. Staff did try to discourage its use; physician wasn't thrilled either. For everything going on at the time, it was the best option. Short term - 2 days; served the purpose. Fine after.

They did show me the Purewick with explanations but YUCK!!!

JMHO.

to gere7404 - nice to know. Am retired. But boy, that would have helped way back when in the day. I remember using a pedi U-bag in a pinch. I'm aging myself ?

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