Keeping an Indwelling Urinary Catheter Clean

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Experienced physician Dr. Sarat Sabharwal divides his time between teaching students as an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Central Florida and treating patients with urologic conditions and cancer at Health Orlando, Inc. Dr. Sarat Sabharwal also takes part in various research projects, including a recent study about indwelling catheters and recurrent infections published in 2018.

Indwelling catheters are used for such things as urinary retention, urinary incontinence, or other health problems affecting urination. Such devices are inserted into the body via the urethra and go all the way to the bladder. They are connected to a bag outside of the body that collects urine.

Since indwelling urinary catheters go from the outside of the body to the inside, they must be kept extremely clean to prevent infection. Usually, patients must clean their catheters two times a day with warm water, mild soap, a clean washcloth, and a clean towel. Before washing or handling the catheter in any way, patients must wash their hands thoroughly. Once that’s done, the catheter must be held in place with one hand while the other wipes the catheter tube using the soapy water.

Beyond washing the catheter tube, patients must clean the area where the catheter goes into the body. The area should be washed and gently dried, and the hands should again be washed. The towels and clothes that were used for this process can only be used once before they are laundered.

Aside from cleaning the catheter twice a day, patients must also avoid taking baths with the catheter in, since it increases the risk of infections. Showering with the catheter is usually fine, but patients should only shower with their night bag, not their leg bag, attached to the tube.

Temporary Prostatic Stents Help Eliminate Bacterial Colonization

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Active with the American Urological Association, Dr. Sarat Sabharwal is a board-certified urologist who practices at Health Orlando in Florida. Among Dr. Sarat Sabharwal’s recent undertakings was a 2018 pilot study on “Using Temporary Prostatic Stents (TPS) to Eliminate Bacterial Colonization in Men with Chronic Indwelling Catheters (Cureus).”

The study points to TPS as an alternative to chronic urinary catheterization, which often results in increased mortality related to symptomatic infection and chronic bacterial colonization. The 22 enrolled males had their indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) removed and cultured as a way of identifying bacterial flora characteristics. In turn, they had five consecutive 30-day cycle TPS placed, with bacterial cultures obtained following the removal of each stent.

The result of the pilot study showed that TPS use effectively interrupted bacterial colonization cycles within men’s urinary tracts. This points to a potentially valuable approach in enabling the elimination of multi-drug-resistant organisms from the urinary tracts of patients living with urinary retention.

A Brief Overview of How Stem Cell Therapy Works

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Sarat Sabharwal earned his MD from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and currently holds the position of professor at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Sarat Sabharwal is skilled in the areas of cosmetic surgery, urologic oncology, robotic surgery, kidney cancer treatment, erectile dysfunction treatment, and stem cell therapy.

As a regenerative medical procedure with exceptional regenerative and healing benefits, stem cell therapy can be used to treat a wide range of diseases and ailments including ophthalmological, pulmonary, auto-immune, neurological, and cardiac conditions among others. Stem cells are adaptable, meaning they can differentiate into any type of cell within the human body and can replace or repair tissues that have been torn or damaged.

Stem cell therapy involves the use of stem cells that have been either harvested from the patient undergoing treatment or donated from another. Stem cells are concentrated and then introduced into the patient’s body in the damaged or injured area to promote regeneration. In the USA, four different types of stem cells are typically used for therapeutic purposes including those which are derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and amniotic and cord blood.

What Are the Three Types of Catheters?

A graduate of Drake University, Dr. Sarat Sabharwal received an MD from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1991. Dr. Sarat Sabharwal practices medicine at Health Orlando Inc. in Kissimmee, Florida. and also serves as an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Central Florida.

A successful researcher, Dr. Sabharwal recently completed a pilot study on the use of temporary prostatic stents to eliminate bacterial colonization in men with chronic indwelling catheters. Catheters are medical devices in the form of tubes that are designed to drain and collect urine from the bladder. 

Indwelling catheters refer to catheters that are placed inside the body. Typically, they are inserted through the urethra or through a small hole in the belly. Indwelling catheters are kept in place by a small balloon that can be deflated when the catheter needs to be removed. Another type of catheter, the condom catheter, does not involve the insertion of a tube. Instead, a condom-like device that leads to a drainage bag is placed over the penis. Lastly, intermittent catheters refer to those that are not left in place. Rather, the catheter is inserted only when the bladder needs drained and then it is removed.