A new multimedia white paper for clinicians outlines infection-control issues associated with the traditional Foley urinary catheter. Using text, clinical videos and photos taken insider the bladder, the clinical white paper is believed to be the first multimedia presentation of its kind on CAUTIs. It was authored by a urologist and critical care clinical nurse specialist.

Injuries to the bladder caused by commonly used Foley catheters can lead to catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and other serious complications. The new white paper shows how the inherent design flaws of the Foley device can lead to complications. It also suggests precautionary practices that can reduce those complications.

Among alternatives to the Foley catheter, the white paper discusses a new system that addresses the Foley catheter’s design issues, thereby helping to protect patients against Foley-related infections and other complications.

Titled “How Foley Catheter Design Flaws May Lead to CAUTIs: The Problem … and a Potential Solution,” the white paper is authored by Raul Ordorica, MD and Kathleen M. Vollman, MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN. It appears on the website of Poiesis Medical.

“Some hospitals find they can temporarily get to zero CAUTIs, but that rarely lasts,” said co-author Kathleen Vollman. “We need to dig deeper to understand why this is so. Using dramatic video and a review of the clinical literature, this white paper provides clinicians with new insights about the stubborn sources of CAUTIs and what can be done to eliminate them.”

CAUTIs are considered preventable, yet the CDC estimates that every year more than 560,000 cases occur in the U.S. alone. The infections lead to an attributable 13,000 deaths.

Other complications associated with the Foley catheter include septicemia, bladder spasms, hematuria, blockage, leakage, and, in some chronic users, even cancer. Septicemia has a 10% mortality rate in CAUTI patients.

“Clinicians recognize how prevalent CAUTIs are, and how difficult it is to prevent them despite the use of the accepted protocols. What’s often overlooked is the dysfunctional design of the Foley catheter itself, and how it contributes to infections and other complications,” said urologist Bruce Wiita, M. D., the founder and Chairman of Poiesis Medical.

These infections cost U.S. hospitals upwards of $500 million annually according to the CDC, and other cost estimates put the annual toll at more than $3 billion. Under newly implemented provisions of the Affordable Care Act, some hospitals have already had their Medicare reimbursements cut because their patients suffer high CAUTI rates. These penalties can escalate yearly.

In a new national survey of infection preventionists, sponsored by Poiesis Medical, a large majority said that a Foley catheter can cause trauma to the wall/lining of the bladder – and that trauma to the bladder wall/lining increases the risk of CAUTIs.

Poiesis Medical is the maker of the Duette™ urinary drainage system. The new Duette system is designed to replace the Foley catheter, which has not been fundamentally modified since it was introduced more than 75 years ago. The Duette has a novel dual-balloon configuration designed to protect the mucosal lining and integrity of the bladder wall from trauma.

The Duette system is now in use in several dozen facilities, including two Level 1 trauma centers in Florida. Initial clinical trials of the device have shown highly promising results, leading to substantial reductions in CAUTI rates.

In addition to the white paper, more information about CAUTIs, their relationship to Foley catheter design, and the alternative provided by the Duette system can be found here.

About Poiesis Medical

Poiesis Medical LLC creates advanced urinary products that improve patient care. The company’s first product, the Duette urinary drainage system, addresses design issues with standard urinary catheters and the clinical complications associated with them. For more information about the company, visit www.poiesismedical.com.