[The control of catheter-associated urinary tract infection: an experimental nursing study. This study examined the effect of daily meatal care on the urinary tract infection rate of an experimental group].

The purpose of study was to confirm theory about the effectiveness of routine meatal care on the reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infection. The study was carried out at a university hospital from September 1, 1987 to April 17, 1989: 32 patients with a foley-catheter were studied. The study compared the urinary tract infection rate of an experimental group with that of a control group and tested the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria. The experimental group (16 patients) was given daily meatal care with 10% Betadine for periods ranging from 4 to 21 days. The control group (16 patients) was not given that care. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The urinary tract infection rate of the experimental group was 50.0%, and that of the control group 43.8%. There was no significant difference between the groups. 2. Organisms isolated in the control group were bacteria 100%, and in the experimental group bacteria 50% and fungus 50%. The most common organisms of the 15 strains isolated in the total group were Staphylococcus coagulase negative (3 patients), and E-coli (3 patients). 3. Most of bacteria isolated in this study were sensitive to Norfloxacin, but resistant to Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and Erythromycin. Hence the importance of controlling catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Findings suggest the need to search for other sources of infection, further experimentation controlling various sources of urinary tract infection and larger groups of subjects.