Reusable catheters as 'safe as single-use devices'

Getty/photo-lime

By Olivia Bowthorpe

Switching to reusable urinary catheters appears to be just as safe as relying only on single-use devices, according to a major UK trial.

The researchers found that people who reused some intermittent catheters did not have higher rates of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and also used fewer antibiotics.

These trial findings “support practice change” for healthcare professionals, and could save the NHS both money and waste, researchers wrote in the International Journal of Nursing Studies.

"Reusable catheters can be confidently offered together with single-use catheters as a safe choice for use in the community," they added.

The study involved 578 adults across the UK who use intermittent catheters because of long-term bladder problems due to conditions such as neurological disease or injury.

Participants were randomly assigned either to continue using single-use catheters only, which is standard practice, or to use a mixed approach of reusable and single-use catheters over 12 months.