Having a catheter can make personal hygiene more challenging. Knowing how often you need to shower and bathe is important for preventing infection and keeping your skin healthy. Here is a guide to showering frequency with a catheter.
How often should I shower with an indwelling catheter?
With an indwelling catheter, you should shower at least once per day. An indwelling catheter is one that stays in your bladder for an extended period of time, often weeks or months. Since the catheter provides a direct path for bacteria to enter your urinary tract, daily showers are important for cleaning the skin and reducing infection risk.
Most experts recommend showering in the morning or before bed. This helps remove bacteria and sweat that accumulate on the skin throughout the day or night. It’s also ideal to shower after exercise or other activities that cause heavy sweating.
In addition to your normal shower wash, pay special attention to cleaning the area around the catheter insertion site at least once per day. Use a mild, unscented soap and water. Rinse the area thoroughly after washing.
Avoid taking baths if you have an indwelling catheter, as soaking in stagnant bath water can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract. Showers are better for maintaining cleanliness.
Tips for showering with an indwelling catheter
- Wash the catheter tubing with soap and water from the point of insertion down to the drainage bag.
- Clean the skin around the catheter insertion site using a circular motion moving away from the site.
- Make sure drainage bag valves are closed before showering.
- Avoid getting the drainage bag wet by placing it outside the shower or protect it with a plastic cover.
- Rinse the perineal area last to wash away bacteria.
- Pat dry around the catheter, never rub.
How often should I shower with an intermittent catheter?
Most experts recommend showering at least once daily if you use an intermittent catheter. With this type of catheter, you insert it temporarily when needed to empty the bladder and remove it afterwards.
Showering daily helps prevent bacteria buildup on the skin around the urethral opening. It’s important to wash the genital area thoroughly before and after each intermittent catheterization.
Cleaning the perineal region after every catheter insertion also removes traces of urine or lubricant. This helps lower the chances of bacteria migrating into the urinary tract.
Tips for showering with intermittent catheterization
- Always wash hands with soap and water before catheterization.
- Cleanse the genital area with mild, unscented soap before inserting catheter.
- Shower after each catheterization to wash away bacteria.
- Cleanse the genital area again with soap and water after removing catheter.
- Thoroughly rinse off all soap residues.
- Pat dry with a clean towel.
What’s the best way to shower with a catheter?
Proper showering technique is important when you have a catheter to prevent complications. Here are some tips:
Use mild, fragrance-free soaps
Choose a gentle, hypoallergenic soap without dyes or perfumes. Harsh soaps can irritate the urethra and skin around the catheter.
Clean catheter and skin separately
Use one washcloth to clean just the catheter and a separate washcloth for the rest of your body. This prevents spreading bacteria.
Shampoo hair first
Lather up your hair first before washing your body. This prevents shampoo residues from irritating your catheter area.
Clean catheter site last
Wash your body as normal, leaving the catheter area for last. This avoids contaminating the site with bacteria from other parts of your body.
Pat dry, don’t rub
Gently pat the area around the catheter dry after showering. Rubbing can cause skin irritation and inflammation.
Moisturize
Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer to prevent chafed skin around the catheter site after showering.
Change out drainage bag
Replace drainage bag with a new sterile one after daily showering to reduce bacterial buildup.
How can I make showering easier with a catheter?
Showering with a catheter may require some adjustments. Here are some tips to make the process easier:
- Install grab bars – Grab bars provide stability and make showering safer.
- Use a shower chair – Sitting while showering reduces standing fatigue.
- Consider a handheld showerhead – Allows you to directly target cleaning of the catheter area.
- Get help at first – Have someone assist the first few times showering with the catheter.
- Create a catheter shower kit – Keep all supplies (soap, washcloths, etc.) in one convenient kit.
- Set up a routine – Establish a regular showering schedule, like daily in the morning.
- Take your time – Don’t rush the process until you are comfortable showering with the catheter.
How do I keep my catheter dry when showering?
Keeping your catheter and drainage system dry while showering is important to avoid complications. Here are some methods to keep it protected:
- Liquid bandage – Apply over the catheter insertion site before showering.
- Tegaderm dressing – This transparent film helps keep the site dry.
- Plastic wrap – Wrap plastic wrap around the catheter tubing and secure it.
- Shower cap – Place a plastic shower cap over the drainage bag.
- Waterproof tape – Use tape to seal the connections between tubing.
- Drainage bag sleeve – Special sleeves are available to cover the drainage bag.
Make sure all connections are tightened so water cannot seep in. Check that valves on the drainage bag are closed before showering.
An alternative is to keep the drainage bag outside of the shower while washing. Just ensure the tubing and catheter stay protected.
What problems can occur from showering with a catheter?
Proper hygiene is important with a catheter, but showering also poses some risks. Potential problems include:
- Infection – Bacteria on the skin or in the water can enter the urinary tract via the catheter and cause infection.
- Skin irritation – Moisture beneath the catheter dressing can lead to itching, redness, rashes.
- Catheter displacement – The catheter may get dislodged or moved if the insertion site is soaked or agitated.
- Leakage – Wet tubing connections can leak urine, leading to skin breakdown.
- Bladder spasms – Cold shower water entering the catheter can trigger bladder muscle spasms.
To prevent problems, shower carefully using protective methods for the catheter site. Pat dry thoroughly and change dressings if they get soaked. Also speak to your healthcare provider about any shower-related discomfort.
How soon can I shower after catheter removal?
It’s generally recommended to wait 24-48 hours before taking a shower after having a catheter removed. This allows the urethral opening time to heal after the catheter is taken out.
Showering too soon after catheter removal can irritate the urethra, increase inflammation, and raise infection risk. The urethral opening may also still leak urine with pressure from water if swollen.
Here are some tips for showering after catheter removal:
- Wait at least 24 hours if possible before getting the site wet.
- Take a gentle sponge bath until a shower is allowed.
- Let warm water run over the area, don’t directly spray it.
- Rinse using a plastic pitcher or cup if needed.
- Pat dry instead of rubbing the area.
- Avoid using soaps on the urethral opening at first.
Talk to your healthcare provider about when it is safe to resume normal showering based on your individual catheterization and healing. Report any burning, stinging or unusual discomfort when showering after catheter removal.
Conclusion
Maintaining good hygiene is crucial for catheter users to prevent infection. Showering daily is recommended, along with thoroughly cleaning the catheter site and tubing. Take steps to keep the catheter protected and drainage system dry when showering. Allow healing time before showering after catheter removal. With some adjustments, showering can still be safe and comfortable with a catheter in place.