Indwelling urinary catheters should not be used to monitor stable people who are able to urinate or for the convenience of the patient or hospital staff. Urethral trauma is the only absolute contraindication to the placement of a urinary catheter. Examination findings such as blood at the urethral meatus, or a high riding prostate necessitate a retrograde urethrogram prior to insertion. In the United States, catheter-associated urinary tract infection is the most common type of hospital-acquired infection. Indwelling catheters should be avoided when there are alternatives, and when patients and caregivers discuss alternatives to indwelling urinary catheters with their physicians and nurses then sometimes an alternative may be found. Physicians can reduce their use of indwelling urinary catheters when they follow evidence-based guidelines for usage, such as those published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Foley catheter
Penrose drain
Suprapubic aspiration
Perineal dilator
Urinary catheterization
Suprapubic cystostomy
Ureteric balloon catheter
Macy catheter