It is also imporcant to highlight that the
use of catheter maintenance solutions relies on opening
the closed drainage system. Since maintaining a closed
drainage system has been demonstrated as being one of
the single most effective elements in preventing urinary
infection in the catheterized p.itient then the decision to
use them should never be taken lightly (NICE, 2003).
C.etlifl'e (2001, 2002, 2003) h.is written extensively on
ihe subject and is considered by the author as an expert
in this field. Her primary recommendation is to plan
catheter changes according to the patient's individual
pattern of catheter hfe. However, she suggests that if a
patient's catheter life is short (7 to 14 days) and they find
frequent catheterization unacceptable then there may be
an argument for using a catheter maintenance solution.
Therefore the use of these solutions is not recommended