Health Library

Foley Catheter Home Care

Keeping a Foley Catheter Clean

It is very important to take good care of the Foley catheter, tubing and drainage bag.

• Keep the catheter, the tubing and the drainage bag clean.
• Do not let the bag drag on the floor.

Cleaning the Catheter

• Clean the catheter and the skin where it enters the body twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.
• Wash your hands first.
• Use a warm, wet, soapy wash cloth and clean the catheter and the skin around it. 
• Take care not to pull on the catheter.
• Hold the catheter in one hand and clean with the other hand to help prevent pulling on the catheter.
• If there is any dried drainage that does not come off with soap and water, you can use hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball or gauze pad.  Wipe gently on the catheter.  Avoid getting the hydrogen peroxide on the skin.
• Rinse the catheter and skin with plain water and pat dry with a clean towel.

Bathing Your Child

• Give your child a sponge bath.
• Tub baths, showers and swimming are not allowed due to risk of infection.

Damage to the Catheter or Bag

• Check the catheter and the bag for any cuts or tears.
• If there are any leaks or there is damage to the catheter or the bag, you will need to change the catheter or the bag.
• An opening anywhere in the catheter or the bag will allow bacteria (germs) to enter.  If these would reach your child’s bladder, a urinary tract infection could result.
• Do not put the drainage bag in a plastic bag if it leaks.  You should change the bag immediately.

Taking Care of the Drainage Bag

• There are two types of bags, a leg bag and a larger drainage bag, both connect to the catheter.
• The leg bag is smaller and strapped to the leg, allowing more freedom of movement.
• If the leg bag is worn, empty it at least every two to three hours, or when it becomes 2/3 full.
• If the larger urine drainage bag is used, empty it at least every eight hours, even if it is not full.

How to Empty the Bag

• Protect the end of the drain spout.
• Avoid touching the end of the spout to the container that is being used.
• Also, do not touch the spout with your hands.
• This helps prevent germs from getting into the bag, which in turn could lead to an infection.

How to Change the Drainage Bag

• Wash your hands.
• Clean the area around where the tubing connects to the catheter with alcohol or Betadine.
• Fold the catheter over on itself to prevent urine leakage from the catheter when you disconnect the bag from the catheter.
• Pull the bag tubing out from the catheter.
• Take care to not touch the end of the new tubing.
• Connect the new bag tubing to the catheter.
• Cover the end of the removed tubing with sterile gauze or a cap to keep it clean or discard if the bag is damaged.

Call Your Child's Doctor If:

• The urine changes color, smells foul, becomes bloody, or the amount of urine output decreases or the flow of urine stops
• There is urine leakage around the catheter or tubing
• Your child has pain in the back, sides or belly; fever or vomiting
• You don’t have the supplies to care for the Foley catheter or drainage bag

Tips

• Keep the drainage system below the level of the bladder so the urine does not back up into the bladder.
• Keep the tubing below the bladder and above the drainage bag.
• Be sure there are no kinks or bends in the tubing. Urine will not drain if this happens.
• Secure the catheter in place on your child’s leg.
• Make sure there is enough slack so that the catheter does not get pulled with movement.
• A catheter securement product works well (for example, Flexi-Track or universal tubing securement device). Secure the catheter at the bifurcation or Y.
• Change the drainage bag if it becomes dirty, foul smelling or damaged.
• Remember to drink lots of fluids as this can help to reduce the risk of getting a urinary tract infection. The urine should be light yellow and clear.