How to Clean a Suprapubic Catheter

A suprapubic catheter is a tube that is inserted into your bladder through a small hole in your abdomen. A suprapubic catheter may be needed for those who have health problems such as surgery, urinary incontinence or urinary retention. When you have a suprapubic catheter, proper care is crucial to prevent infections and ensure it functions well. Your health care provider should provide you with the supplies needed to clean your catheter, or you can find them at a grocery store or pharmacy.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic trash bag
• Cotton tipped applicator
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Split 4 by 4 gauze dressing

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands well for at least 15 seconds with warm water and soap. Clean under your fingernails and between each finger. Rinse your hands thoroughly and dry with a clean towel.

• 2

  Remove the old dressing carefully so not to pull on tube and throw away in the trash. Examine the old dressing and where the tube leaves the skin for swelling, bleeding, skin irritation, or foul-smelling drainage.

• 3

  Wash your hands well again to remove germs from the dressing.

• 4

  Gently wash the catheter and the skin around it. Use a clean washcloth, soap and water and begin washing your skin and the catheter nearest to your skin. Move slowly down and away from your body as you clean the catheter tube. Alternatively, you can take a shower at this time and wash with soap and a clean cloth in the shower.

• 5

  Use the cotton swab and hydrogen peroxide to clean the area again, moving in a slow circular motion first at the site where the tube meets your skin and then cleaning outward 3 or 4 inches.

• 6

  Let the area dry.

• 7

  Place the split 4 by 4 around the tube where it meets your skin. Use a piece of tape to keep it in place.

• 8

  Tape the catheter tube to your skin with tape so it will not be pulled.