When cleansing a female resident with an indwelling catheter, which statement is correct?

• A. Cleanse away from the body and down the catheter at least 3-4 inches
• B. Cleanse toward the body
• C. Use a dirty washcloth for cleansing
• D. Skip cleansing instructions and rinse quickly

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is infection prevention through proper cleansing direction and technique. When caring for a female resident with an indwelling catheter, you want to clean from the clean area closest to the body outward toward the catheter, moving away from the body along the catheter for several inches. This helps prevent bacteria from traveling toward the urethral opening and up into the bladder via the catheter. Using a clean portion of cloth for each stroke and taking the time to clean the area along the catheter reduces contamination and lowers infection risk. Cleansing toward the body, using a dirty washcloth, or skipping the cleansing step would increase the chance of introducing bacteria into the urinary tract.