Discharge Instructions: Caring for Your Indwelling Urinary Catheter

Draining the bedside bag

• Wash your hands with soap and clean, running water. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• Hold the drainage tube over a toilet or measuring container.

• Unclamp the tube and let the bag drain.

• Don’t touch the tip of the drainage tube or let it touch the toilet or container.

• You don't need to rinse the bag or drainage tube.

Cleaning the drainage tube

• When the bag is empty, clean the tip of the drainage tube with an alcohol wipe.

• Clamp the tube.

• Reinsert the tube into the pocket on the drainage bag.

Cleaning your skin and tubing

• Clean the skin near the catheter with soap and water.

• Wash your genital area from front to back.

• Wash the catheter tubing. Always wash the catheter in the direction away from your body.

• You will be told when and how to change your bag and tubing.

• Don’t try to remove the catheter by yourself.

• You may shower with the catheter in place.

Emptying a leg bag

• Wash your hands.

• Remove the stopper on the bag.

• Drain the bag into the toilet or a measuring container. Don’t let the tip of the drainage tube touch anything, including your fingers.

• Clean the tip of the drainage tube with alcohol.

• Replace the stopper.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment, or as directed by your healthcare provider.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following:

• Fever of 100.4°F ( 38°C) or higher, or as directed by your provider

• Chills

• Leakage around the catheter insertion site

• Increased spasms (uncontrollable twitching) in your legs, belly (abdomen), or bladder. Occasional mild spasms are normal.

• Burning in the urinary tract, penis, or genital area

• Nausea and vomiting

• Aching in the lower back

• Cloudy or bloody (pink or red) urine, sediment or mucus in the urine, or bad-smelling urine