FAQs

Catheterising yourself does come with a risk of infection, but it’s lower than if you were using an indwelling Foley catheter or weren’t fully emptying your bladder. Good hygiene is key to keeping infection at bay, so always make sure to thoroughly wash your hands before catheterising.

Always make sure you thoroughly wash your hands and clean the genital area before catheterising to prevent UTIs. You should also stick to a catheterisation schedule, so you don’t risk having an overly full bladder. Drinking plenty of fluids (especially water) is also important to prevent infection.
You can also consider a closed system catheter or one that uses a sleeve to minimise direct contact with your catheter.

If you think you have a UTI, you should tell your healthcare professional immediately. UTIs can
quickly become worse, so it’s important to catch them as early as possible.

A UTI is most often caused when bacteria enter the urinary system. They can happen to anyone regardless of if they catheterise or not and are common in women. 

However, the risk of a UTI increases in men and women when they catheterise. UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics, and it’s important to report them to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Infections can happen in any part of the urinary tract, though they usually occur in the bladder. They can also occur in the urethra, ureters (which connect your kidneys to your bladder), or kidneys.

Signs that you might have a UTI include:

• a more frequent or urgent than usual need to urinate
• blood in your urine
• cramps or pain in your groin or lower abdomen
• fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms
• painful urination or pain in your lower back
• nausea or vomiting
• more leaking between catheterisations than usual
• confusion
• increased spasticity in legs if you have a neurogenic condition

These following symptoms are not indicative of UTI unless you also have one or more of the previous mentioned signs.

• cloudy or smelly urine
• sediment or mucus in the urine

If you experience any change in what you consider normal for you, contact your healthcare professional. Good hygiene is essential to minimising the risk of UTIs, so always make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and cleanse the genital area before catheterising.

The symptoms of a UTI include

• a more frequent or urgent than usual need to urinate
• blood in your urine
• cramps or pain in your groin or lower abdomen
• fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms
• pain in your lower back
• nausea or vomiting
• more leaking between catheterisations than usual
• confusion
• increased spasticity in legs if you have a neurogenic condition

These following symptoms are not indicative of UTI unless you also have one or more
of the previous mentioned signs.

• cloudy or smelly urine
• sediment or mucus in the urine

If you experience any change in what you consider normal for you, contact your healthcare professional.