06-01-2009, 08:36 AM
You are asked to see a 63-year-old woman who is in the hospital after undergoing an operation 4 days ago for a displaced tibia-fibula fracture. The operation was uncomplicated. Preoperative chest x-ray film was normal. She has a transurethral urinary catheter, which was placed during the operation 4 days ago. Today she has a temperature of 37.9°C (100.2°F). Laboratory studies disclose mild leukocytosis. Urinalysis shows greater than 100 WBC/hpf and many bacteria. You suspect that she has a urinary tract infection.
Which of the following would have been the most appropriate method of preventing a urinary tract infection in this patient?
A) Cleaning the perineum twice daily with povidone-iodine
B) Irrigating the bladder every 8 hours
C) Removing the catheter immediately post-operation
D) Treating the patient with prophylactic antibiotics
E) Using only silver-coated urinary catheters
Which of the following would have been the most appropriate method of preventing a urinary tract infection in this patient?
A) Cleaning the perineum twice daily with povidone-iodine
B) Irrigating the bladder every 8 hours
C) Removing the catheter immediately post-operation
D) Treating the patient with prophylactic antibiotics
E) Using only silver-coated urinary catheters