Do condom catheter collecting systems cause urinary tract infection?

A study was undertaken to determine whether use of a condom catheter collection system (CCCS) is associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). No UTI developed in 79 episodes of CCCS use in patients who were cooperative or because of paralysis were unable to manipulate the collecting system (mean time per patient, 21.2 days; total number of patient days, 1,677). By contrast, in 15 patients who were identified prospectively as being uncooperative and who repeatedly manipulated the CCS, UTI developed in eight (53.3%) within a mean of 9.6 days. Urethral catheterization in cooperative patients during CCCS use was followed by development of UTI. Repeated interference with the proper use of CCCS and urethral catheterization during CCCS use are associated with an increased risk of UTI.