Editing Urinary catheterization (section)

==Preventing infection==
Everyday care of the catheter and drainage bag is important to reduce the risk of infection. Such precautions include:
* Urinary catheterization should be done in a sterile aseptic manner. 
* Cleansing the urethral area (the area where the catheter exits body) and the catheter itself.
* Disconnecting the drainage bag from catheter only with clean hands
* Disconnecting the drainage bag as seldom as possible.
* Keeping the drainage bag connector as clean as possible and cleaning the drainage bag periodically.
* Use of a thin catheter where possible to reduce the risk of harming the [[urethra]] during insertion.
* Drinking sufficient liquid to produce at least two litres of urine daily
* Sexual activity is very high risk for urinary infections, especially for catheterized women.

There is no clear evidence that any one catheter type or insertion technique is superior compared to another in preventing infections or complications.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Prieto|first1=Jacqui A.|last2=Murphy|first2=Catherine L.|last3=Stewart|first3=Fiona|last4=Fader|first4=Mandy|date=2021-10-26|title=Intermittent catheter techniques, strategies and designs for managing long-term bladder conditions|url=|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=2021|issue=10|pages=CD006008|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006008.pub5|issn=1469-493X|pmc=8547544|pmid=34699062}}</ref> In the UK it is generally accepted that cleaning the area surrounding the urethral meatus with 0.9% sodium chloride solution is sufficient for both male and female patients as there is no reliable evidence to suggest that the use of antiseptic agents reduces the risk of [[urinary tract infection]].<ref name="Marsden">{{cite book|title=The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures|author1=Dougherty Lisa|author2=Lister Sara|date=2011-08-15|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-4443-3509-5}}</ref>

Recent developments in the field of the temporary [[prostatic stent]] have been viewed as a possible alternative to indwelling catheterization and the infections associated with their use.<ref name="pmid17296408">{{cite journal | vauthors = Shore ND, Dineen MK, Saslawsky MJ, Lumerman JH, Corica AP | title = A temporary intraurethral prostatic stent relieves prostatic obstruction following transurethral microwave thermotherapy | journal = J. Urol. | volume = 177 | issue = 3 | pages = 1040–6 | date = March 2007 | pmid = 17296408 | doi = 10.1016/j.juro.2006.10.059 }}</ref>