Final answer:
Infection signs in a Foley catheter may include high fever, abdominal pain, and bloody urine. A Foley catheter used during surgery could introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, causing an infection. Diagnosis involves urine tests for white blood cells, red blood cells, and bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Signs of infection in a Foley catheter can include symptoms such as sudden-onset high fever, abdominal pain, and changes in urine characteristics like the presence of blood. Given that Roberta experienced these symptoms post-surgery, it raises the suspicion of a nosocomial infection, frequently involving bacteria like Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus forming a biofilm on medical devices like catheters. Diagnosis often involves urine tests to identify white blood cells, red blood cells, and bacteria, signifying an infection.
In Roberta's case specifically, the use of a Foley catheter during her recent gallstone surgery might have introduced bacteria to her urinary tract, causing a urinary tract infection. This could occur through contamination of the catheter or through improper sterile technique during its insertion or maintenance. Moreover, medical devices such as catheters are prone to forming a biofilm that can harbor bacteria, further compounding the risk of infection.