Do condom catheter collecting systems cause urinary tract infection?
D. D. Hirsh, V. Fainstein and D. M. Musher
A study was undertaken to determine whether use of a condom catheter
collection system (CCCS) is associated with urinary tract infection (UTI).
No UTI developed in 79 episodes of CCCS use in patients who were
cooperative or because of paralysis were unable to manipulate the
collecting system (mean time per patient, 21.2 days; total number of
patient days, 1,677). By contrast, in 15 patients who were identified
prospectively as being uncooperative and who repeatedly manipulated the
CCS, UTI developed in eight (53.3%) within a mean of 9.6 days. Urethral
catheterization in cooperative patients during CCCS use was followed by
development of UTI. Repeated interference with the proper use of CCCS and
urethral catheterization during CCCS use are associated with an increased
risk of UTI.
