apa style paper on medical and surgical asepsis

There are Practice Guidelines in preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Infections. Damage to the urethra can occur if the catheter is forced through strictures or at an incorrect angle. It is important to insert a catheter along the normal contour of the urethra. Another hazard is trauma, particularly in the male client, whose urethra is longer and more tortuous. Thus, a strict sterile technique is used for catheterization. Once an infection is introduced into the bladder, it can ascend the ureters and eventually involved the kidneys. Clients who have lowered immune resistance are at greater risk. Urinary catheterization is usually performed only when necessary because the danger exists of introducing microorganisms into the bladder. Potential Complications in Urinary Catheterization However, latex catheters are preferred for long-term use due to lower costs (Wood & Bender, 1989). Silastic catheters are used in patients who have an allergy to latex. As compared to latex catheters, Silastic catheters have a reduced risk of urethritis or even urethral stricture (Nacey, Tulloch & Ferguson, 1985). The use of Silastic catheters has been recommended for short-term post-surgery catheterization. However, suprapubic catheters increase the risk of cellulitis leakage, hematoma at the site of puncture, the risk of prolapse through the urethral in addition to the added psychological barrier of insertion of the catheter through the abdominal wall. The ease in changing these catheters adds to the comfort and convenience of the patients which makes it more preferable (Warren, 1992). The risk for infection is reduced by the use of a suprapubic catheter since there are fewer microbes on the abdominal wall as compared to the perineum. Suprapubic catheters are generally preferred over urethral catheters by physicians for gynecologic and urologic and short-term uses (Warren, 1992). Suprapubic Catheter v/s Urethral Catheter There are several catheter choices in the urinary catheterization process. In performing Urinary Catheterization, it is important to determine the most appropriate method of catheterization based on the purpose and any criteria specified in the order such as the total amount of urine to be removed or the size of the catheter to be used. Either straight catheters, inserted to drain the bladder and then immediately removed, or retention catheters, which remain in the bladder to drain urine, may be used. They are sized by the diameter of the lumen using the French scale: the larger the number, the larger the lumen. In a majority of patients, the use of the catheter with a 5-milliliter balloon inflated with about 5 to 10 milliliters of fluid is considered ideal to minimize irritation (McGill, 1982). It has been recommended that the catheter with the “narrowest, softest tube” is ideal for catheterization (McGill, 1982). Catheters are commonly made of rubber plastics although they may be made from latex, silicone, or polyvinyl chloride. Urinary Catheterization is the introduction of a catheter through the urethra into the urinary bladder. In this essay, the researcher aims to examine urinary catheterization, the equipment used, and the aseptic techniques employed when using catheters along with the inspection of the several effects in the case of failure in employing the aseptic technique. The Aseptic technique is the method of maintaining sterility and avoiding contamination of surgical items during surgical procedures when an object is being introduced into the body. In the 1950s, a closed system of the catheter was introduced which is in use until today (Warren, 1992). The urethral catheter tube traditionally consisted of a tube that was inserted into the urinary bladder through the urethra and was drained into an open container. The use of the aseptic technique in catheterization is primarily employed to minimize the risk of infections to the patients after the procedure has been accomplished and also to reduce the risk of infectious micro-organisms to service providers. Urinary Catheterization is a general asepsis procedure that involves the insertion of intravenous catheters or urinary catheters in patients.

Apa style paper on medical and surgical asepsis