Analysis
Catheters and urinary tract infections: how to reduce the risk
Nurses have a crucial role in catheter management and preventing infections

Nurses have a crucial role in catheter management and preventing infections
- More than one in ten NHS patients in England have a catheter, putting them at risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI)
- UTIs are the most common healthcare-acquired infection, accounting for nearly one in five cases
- Catheters should be used as little as possible, and for as little time as possible, along with effective communication between healthcare professionals
More than one in ten (13%) NHS patients in England have a catheter, research suggests.
They are used the most in hospital and hospice settings with 19% and 24% respective patients undergoing catheterisation, compared with 7% of patients in
Want to read more?
Unlock full access to RCNi Plus today
Save over 50% on your first three months:
- Customisable clinical dashboard featuring 200+ topics
- Unlimited online access to all 10 RCNi Journals including Nursing Standard
- RCNi Learning featuring 180+ RCN accredited learning modules
- NMC-compliant RCNi Portfolio to build evidence for revalidation
- Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
Already registered or subscribed? Log in

This article is not available as part of an institutional subscription. Why is this?
