Indwelling catheter and risk of urinary infection: a clinical investigation with a new closed-drainage system.

A new device for the drainage of an indwelling urethral catheter is described. The disposable one-piece-set includes the connector to the catheter, the tubing, and a cylinder to collect a urine aliquot up to 150 ml. Disconnection is impossible. The urine passes through a siphon which prevents air bubbles rising along the tubing. Aurine sample for bacteriological culture can be withdrawn from the closed system by sterile puncture of this siphon. The calibration of the cylinder enables accurate measuring of urine flow rate even in oliguric patients. The apparatus was tested in 250 patients (1386 patient-days) by daily bacteriological cultures. Compared to the literature it is at the moment the most effective system preventing urinary infection during catheter drainage.