How Often Should I Clean My Catheter Bag

Emptying and Cleaning Your Urinary Catheter Pocketbook

Y'all have an indwelling urinary catheter. This drains urine from your float into a handbag. The pocketbook tin be one that is used at your bedside. Or it can exist a smaller bag that is strapped to your leg. Follow the steps below to empty and clean a urinary bag.

Step ane. Drain the bag

Launder your hands well with soap and water to prevent infecting the urinary catheter and bag.
If the short drainage tube is inserted into a pocket on the pocketbook, take the drainage tube out of the pocket.
Concord the drainage tube over a toilet or measuring container. Open up the valve.
Don't touch the tip of the valve or allow it touch the toilet or container.
Wash your hands again.

Closeup of hands opening valve on urinary catheter bag, draining urine into measuring cup.

Stride two. Make clean the drainage tube

When the bag is empty, clean the tip of the drainage valve with an booze wipe.
Close the valve.
Reinsert the drainage tube into the pocket, if there is one.

Closeup of hands cleaning tube of urinary catheter bag.

Footstep three. Clean your skin

Wash your hands well before and afterwards cleaning your skin.
If you have a catheter (such as a Foley) that enters through the urethra, make clean the urethral area with soap and water 1 fourth dimension(southward) daily as you were taught by your healthcare provider. You should also clean afterward every bowel movement to preclude infection.
- Don't pull on the tubing when cleaning so you don't injure the urethra.
- Don't apply antibiotic ointment or any other antibacterial product to the urethra.
- Don't use lubricant on the urethra.
- Don't utilize pulverization to the genital expanse or to the tubing.
If you have a suprapubic catheter, your healthcare provider volition tell you how to clean your skin effectually the catheter. This is a catheter that was surgically placed into the bladder through the lower abdomen (abdomen).

Step iv. Check and make clean the catheter tubing

Check the tubing. If there are kinks, cracks, clogs, or you can't see into the tubing, yous'll need to change to new tubing as you were shown by your healthcare provider.
If the electric current tubing can still be used, launder it with soap and water. Always wash the tubing in the direction away from your body. Don't pull on the tubing.
Dry the tubing with a clean washcloth or paper towel.

Closeup of hands cleaning catheter.

Pace five. Clean the drainage handbag

Accept a clean backup bag or other drainage device ready.
Follow these steps:
- Wash your hands well with soap and h2o.
- Disconnect the handbag from the catheter tubing. Connect the tubing to the backup handbag or drainage device.
- Bleed any remaining urine from the handbag you just disconnected. Close the drainage valve.
- Pour some warm (not hot) soapy water into the bag. Swish the soap around, being certain to go the corners of the handbag.
- Open the drainage valve to bleed the soap. Close the valve.
- Utilize a certain solution to clean the handbag if your healthcare provider advises one. Solutions that may be advised include:
  - 2 parts vinegar and 3 parts water.
  - 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach mixed with a 1/2 cup of water.
- Ask your healthcare provider how frequently you should clean your bag. Enquire what solution you lot should use to reduce aroma and keep your purse gratuitous of germs.
- Milk shake the solution a chip and allow information technology remain in the bag for 30 minutes.
- Bleed the solution and rinse the bag with cold tap water.
- Hang the bag to drain and air-dry.

When to call your healthcare provider

Phone call your healthcare provider right away if you have whatever of the post-obit:

Little or no urine flowing into the bag
Urine leaking where the catheter enters the trunk
Pain, burning, or redness of the surface area where the catheter enters the trunk
Encarmine urine (a trace of blood is normal)
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine, or sand-like grains in your urine
Pain in your lower back or lower abdomen (belly)
Your catheter falls out
Fever of 100.4° F ( 38°C ) or higher, or every bit directed by your healthcare provider
Shaking chills

Online Medical Reviewer: Marc Greenstein MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Tennille Dozier RN BSN RDMS

Engagement Terminal Reviewed: iii/ane/2022