Çağrı Büke, Oguz Sipahi, Sabri Atalay, S. Çalışkan; "The knowledge and attitude regarding urinary catheters" 44th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) October 30–November 2, 2004 Washington, DC Poster K971

Background: Nosocomial urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in our institution. Infection control measures during the catheter insertion and catheter care are the important factors effecting occurence of catheter related UTI. This study was planned to determine the knowledge and attitude of fellows, responsible for the urinary catheterization, regarding infection control measures of urinary catheterization.

Methods: This study was planned as a cross-sectional analytic study using the fellows working in internal and surgical clinics of Ege University Hospital. Of 264, 208 were reached ( 78.7 %). A questionnaire comprising 20 questions was used.

Results: Of all respondents 61,4% were male and 22,8% were in the fourth years of their postgraduate eduation. More than half of the fellows stated that they applied the urinary catheter one or more per day. Only 5.8% of the respondents answered correctly the possible entrance sites of microorganisms into the bladder in patients with indwelling catheter. Many of the fellows (41.1%) sad that they did not wash their hands before their last indwelling catheter application but 99.5% had worn sterile gloves. For reducing the UTI rates 43.9% of the fellows thought that changing the indwelling catheter frequently could be beneficial. Interestingly 43,9% of the respondent stated that it was true to handle the already applied urinary catheter without gloves.

Conclusions: These findings indicated that majority of the fellows did not wash their hands before urinary catheter application. Continuous educational programs regarding infection control measures for urinary catheter insertion and catheter care may be beneficial for reducing the UTI risk.

Abstract Title:	The Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Urinary Catheters
Topic:	K
Author Block:	C. BUKE, O. SIPAHI, S. ATALAY, S. CALISKAN; Ege University Fac. of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Presentation Number:	K-971
Keywords:	Urinary Catheter,Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infection
Background: Nosocomial urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in our institution. Infection control measures during the catheter insertion and catheter care are the important factors effecting occurence of catheter related UTI. This study was planned to determine the knowledge and attitude of fellows, responsible for the urinary catheterization, regarding infection control measures of urinary catheterization. Methods: This study was planned as a cross-sectional analytic study using the fellows working in internal and surgical clinics of Ege University Hospital. Of 264, 208 were reached ( 78.7 %). A questionnaire comprising 20 questions was used. Results: Of all respondents 61,4% were male and 22,8% were in the fourth years of their postgraduate eduation. More than half of the fellows stated that they applied the urinary catheter one or more per day. Only 5.8% of the respondents answered correctly the possible entrance sites of microorganisms into the bladder in patients with indwelling catheter. Many of the fellows (41.1%) sad that they did not wash their hands before their last indwelling catheter application but 99.5% had worn sterile gloves. For reducing the UTI rates 43.9% of the fellows thought that changing the indwelling catheter frequently could be beneficial. Interestingly 43,9% of the respondent stated that it was true to handle the already applied urinary catheter without gloves. Conclusions: These findings indicated that majority of the fellows did not wash their hands before urinary catheter application. Continuous educational programs regarding infection control measures for urinary catheter insertion and catheter care may be beneficial for reducing the UTI risk.
Commercial Relationship:	C. Buke, None.