Urinary tract infections: Do catheters really matter?

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common, costly and can cause distress, embarrassment, discomfort, pain and restrict activities.^1,2 Concerns about urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other complications led some practice guidelines to recommend intermittent rather than indwelling catheterisation.³

But are CAUTI rates really higher with indwelling urethral catheters than intermittent catheterisation? Dr Matthew Davis, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) says that this view ‘appears to be a tired old dogma that has been passed down between generations with little serious questioning.’ Until now.