Question

An 85-year-old male patient with a history of multiple strokes and requiring the use of an indwelling urinary catheter is discharged from the hospital to a long-term care facility after being treated for urosepsis. What are some interventions the nurse can implement to prevent recurrence of the problem?

Answer 1

To prevent recurrence of urosepsis in an elderly patient with a historical use of a urinary catheter, nurses can implement interventions such as ensuring proper fluid intake, maintaining strict catheter care, conducting regular assessments for infection signs, providing mobility assistance, and performing urine culture testing.

Step-by-step explanation:

An 85-year-old male patient with a history of multiple strokes and an indwelling urinary catheter has been discharged to a long-term care facility after treatment for urosepsis. To prevent recurrence, nurses can implement several interventions.

• Hydration monitoring: Ensure adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration which can lead to infrequent urination and increase the risk of UTIs.
• Catheter care: Maintain strict aseptic techniques for catheter insertion and care to prevent infections.
• Regular assessment: Monitor for any signs of infection, such as fever or pain during urination, and assess catheter necessity regularly to reduce the duration of catheterization.
• Assistance with mobility: Provide support to help the patient safely navigate to and from the restroom to encourage regular bladder emptying.
• Urine culture testing: Perform routine urine cultures to identify causative agents of infection early and ensure appropriate antibiotic treatment.

These proactive steps, combined with vigilance and appropriate clinical responses, can reduce the risk of another episode of urosepsis in the elderly patient.