[Interrupting the spread of germs : The art of emptying urinary drainage bags].

Background: Due to the development of antibiotic resistance in many bacterial species, the demands in nursing care have changed significantly. In handling urine catheters in home care, ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogens may present as urinary tract infections or in bacteriuria. However, increasing challenges in hygiene and infection prevention is faced by an increasing number of health assistants and aides with limited knowledge on pathogen systematics, bacterial reservoirs, and pathogen spread.

Methods: The use of hygiene aids during preparation and emptying the urinary drainage bag for a tetraplegic disabled person were observed and recorded.

Results: The advantages of using disinfection wipes by nursing personnel and aides during emptying of urine bags is encouraging. Rapid accessibility of well-placed wipes increases the frequency of reaching several times for a wipe during a critical workflow, compared to the use of a dispenser for hand disinfection. Potentially contaminating touches from the urine outlet or bucket into the area around the bed, or the use of the working hand to touch the glasses, hair, or clothes of the nurse are largely reduced. The touching of the bathroom faucet with a potentially contaminated glove is replaced by reaching for a disinfectant wipe.

Conclusion: By preventing the use of a contaminated hand in an area that needs to remain hygienic by reaching for a disinfectant wipe potentially stops the spread of pathogens. The frequent and deliberative use of wipes significantly reduces the risk of pathogen spread in a home nursing environment.