Long-term urethral catheters in older women.

If other methods of managing urinary incontinence fail, a long-term urethral catheter may be considered. Bacteriuria invariably develops in patients with a catheter in place for 30 days or more. With long-term catheterization, bacteriuria becomes polymicrobial, including familiar and unfamiliar uropathogens. Some febrile episodes, particularly those with high temperatures, can be fatal.