NURS 360: In Hospitalized Women, What is the Effect of Using a Purewick® on the Decreased Risk of Genitourinary Infections Compared With an Indwelling Foley Catheter Within a Hospital Stay?

There is a variety of genitourinary infection which include but are not limited to catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). These infections are often considered nosocomial because they are commonly contracted in a healthcare environment like hospitals. “The most important risk factor for developing a catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI) is prolonged use of the urinary catheter” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015a, para 1). CAUTIs can lead to increased length of hospital stay, additional treatments for the infection, side effects, and increased patient discomfort (Kelechi, Kelechi, & Qanungo, 2017). Due to this the use of an external female catheter or PureWick® has become a more common practice in recent years. There was not much research about external collection devices in females until a couple of years ago. “External collection devices are defined as a category of devices that adhere to the external genitalia or pubic area and collect urinary output” (Gray, Kaler, & Skinner, 2016, page 2). With the information learned about indwelling catheters, external female catheters like the PureWick® were developed. The PureWick® works by providing continuous suction through the device and urine is collected on the wall by a suction container. “The PureWick® is held in place by the labia and gluteus and the suction is not felt by the patient” (Bard Limited, 2019, ques. 10).