How long between Suprapubic Catheter changes?

[BarrySimpson]

I had a suprapubic catheter installed in May 2013. For the first four months in a spinal injuries hospital, it was changed every 5 weeks. On returning home, it was changed every 12 weeks. Early in January 2019 the site where my suprapubic catheter enters into me healed more fully than I had ever noticed previously. Until then, there had always been a small amount of weeping around the site. I had no minor overheating as usually accompanies an infection after the weeping stopped until 12/2/19. My catheter was changed on 5/2/19, re-opening the wound and causing the weeping to resume. By mid March the catheter site had almost stopped weeping. Infections too had stopped: it is beginning to look as though my catheter entry point has been an entry point for the bacteria causing urinary tract infections. The next change of catheter, due on 30th April, was postponed. On 23rd May, my catheter was left with insufficient slackness. It pulled and began to leak around the site. I had a minor infection on 24th May. As the leakage around the catheter site had started, the reason for not changing my catheter had gone and it was changed on 27/5/19, a day short of 16 weeks after the previous change. So I am now left wondering when it should next be changed. 12 weeks? Longer? Left to inspection and discretion?

[incon1982 Administrator]

Please speak to a stoma care nurse or a urology nurse. They should be able to tell you exactly when you should do that change!

[BarrySimpson in reply to incon1982]

Thank you for your advice.

[incon1982 Administrator in reply to BarrySimpson]

I think when it's something this critical to your well-being, it's best to ask a nurse who specializes in this sort of thing to advise a person. The stoma & continence nurses are so well trained in this aspect of caring, that I would always turn to them for help.

[Sophie555]

In Southern California, USA suprapubic Catheters routinely changed every 30 days.

Mine is changed every 2 weeks to help ward off infection. I also use an antimicrobial catheter which some people say helps others not.

Well, several months ago I used a regular catheter instead & got an infection that month. Was it coincidental? I doubt it.

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