Controlled trial of chemical disinfection of urinary drainage bags. Reduction in hospital-acquired catheter-associated infection.

A controlled, prospective trial was conducted on an orthopaedic ward to test the use of peroxide disinfection of drainage bags as the only measure taken to affect the rate of hospital-acquired, catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI). A significant reduction (P less than 0.05) in the number of patients with catheter-associated UTI occurred with the use of bag disinfectant when compared with patients in whom this technique was not used. We consider this technique to be suitable for the management of catheterised patients on general hospital wards to reduce catheter-associated UTI and environmental spread of their bacteria.