Whether it is urology or another surgical specialty, some patients will develop a postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) after surgery. So are surgery and UTIs related? The answer is: most likely, the surgery itself played a role in this UTI. If you are planning to undergo surgery, you are cautioned to be alert for UTIs that occur after surgery. Why are postoperative UTIs more common? Many patients have a urinary catheter inserted to drain the bladder during and/or after surgery, although this tube may be temporary and the risk of a UTI increases. The development of a UTI after a urinary catheter is called a catheter-associated infection or CAUTI. physicians and other medical staff work hard to prevent such infections, and the best way to do this is to carry the tube for as short a time as possible, in other words, remove it as soon as possible. However, there will always be times or patients who need to have the tube in place, and there are some patients who cannot urinate after surgery. This condition, called urinary retention, is very common after anesthesia and the likelihood of UTI increases. With urinary retention, the bladder can become incomplete and stagnant with residual urine, even if it is not yet to the point of being unable to urinate. Excessive residual urine may also lead to frequent urination, and complete urinary retention requires a urinary catheter. Since catheters are so relevant to UTI, let’s learn more about the most commonly used Foley urinary catheter. Foley urinary catheter The Foley urinary catheter is by far the most commonly used catheter, named after Frederic Foley, the doctor who first designed it. It is a hollow, flexible tube that is placed into the bladder through the urethra. When the head end of the catheter enters the bladder, it can be filled up with a bladder while keeping the catheter in place, and urine can be drained into the urinary bag. After the catheter is inserted, it can be left in place for a longer or shorter period of time depending on the purpose, the longer it is left in place the higher the risk of infection occurring. Remember that a catheter is not a substitute for nursing or toileting and is not an appropriate treatment for urinary incontinence. Foley catheter placement and retention A Foley catheter is usually placed to drain the bladder before surgery and the patient is not conscious of urinating during the procedure. It is not always safe to go to the floor to toilet on their own soon after surgery, so a urinary catheter may be the best option for the patient in the early stages of recovery. In most cases the nurse will lower the urinary catheter and operate it during or immediately after anesthesia. Different hospitals have different rules for leaving urinary catheters in place, depending on factors such as different procedures, whether or not they are going to the intensive care unit (ICU), and whether or not it is appropriate to move around. The urine bag not only collects urine, but also provides direct knowledge of the volume and shape of urine. During catheterization, the nurse wears sterile gloves to disinfect the skin, the urinary catheter is lubricated and gently inserted into the urethra. Insertion of a urinary catheter requires aseptic manipulation to avoid UTI. patients may experience mild irritation while carrying the catheter and may feel the sensation of urination even when the bladder is empty. Care of Foley urinary catheters Patients with urinary catheters can move around on the floor, but care must be taken to prevent traction from displacing or even dislodging the catheter. To avoid this, Foley urinary catheters are often fixed with tape to the inner thigh. A special disinfectant is used to clean the genitals to reduce the risk of infection. To remove a urinary catheter, the bladder must be emptied first. If forgotten, it is not only very painful, but can also damage the urethra. Although most urethral tube manufacturers have noticed latex allergies and avoid them, it is best to inform your doctor or nurse before the procedure that you have a latex allergy. Risk factors for post-operative UTI There may be other factors involved in post-operative UTI, including age (the older you are, the more likely it is to occur), gender (women are more likely to have it), the type of procedure, and whether you have other comorbidities. UTI may increase with diabetes, urinary tract (kidney, ureter, bladder, urethra) or close surgeries, such as prostate surgery. In addition to this, inability to move after surgery, such as trauma and orthopedic joint surgery, may also increase the possibility of UTI. Whatever the case, if the surgeon in the operating department encounters a postoperative UTI he or she will mostly manage it. UTI, although common, needs to be effectively controlled so that it does not worsen and become a serious infection.