Uti In Infants Question

[Y2KRN]

Hello guys,

I was just wondering if anyone knows if the risk is high for pseudomonas infection in urine after an in and out cath of an infant???? I have been searching the web and nursing books for answers and I cannot find anything that says that a pseudomonas infection is caused by in and out caths. Most literature that I have found has said they come from an indwelling cath, after long stays in the hospitals.

I know that pseudomonas is present on the skin and in stool and anything is possible but, would an in and out cath cause this from a cath done in the ER. Then weeks later after an admission and going to another hospital, that your child has a pseudomonas infection of the urine, caused by a cath done at the ER??

This is what was told to me by the second physcian and I find this fishy. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Y2K

[disher]

It does not seem fishy to me, because it is possible for pseudomonas aeruginosa to end up in a bladder after accidental catheter contamination.

If the urethral opening is not disinfected prior to insertion of the catheter, then bacteria on the perineum can be transferred into the bladder.

Once in the bladder, the bacteria starts reproducing and can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks develop into a symptomatic UTI.

The doc's connection of the infant's pseudomonas UTI, to the catheterization, makes sense when you consider it from an epidemological perspective. The pseudomonas is the agent, the infant's bladder is the host and the catheter is the vehicle of transmission, once transmitted the bacteria thrives in it's new host until it is treated with antibiotics. Hope this makes sense and hope that the infant is feeling better.