A nurse is preparing to obtain a sterile urine specimen for culture and sensitivity from a client who has a continuous indwelling urinary catheter. Arrange the following steps in the correct order to minimize the risk of infection and ensure an accurate sample.
- 1Clamp the drainage tubing below the aspiration port
- 2Cleanse the aspiration port with an antiseptic wipe
- 3Attach a sterile syringe and withdraw the urine sample
- 4Transfer the urine into a sterile specimen container
- 5Unclamp the drainage tubing
Answer
The correct sequence is: Clamp the drainage tubing, cleanse the aspiration port, attach a syringe to aspirate urine, transfer the urine to a sterile container, and finally unclamp the drainage tubing.
To obtain a sterile urine specimen from a closed indwelling catheter system, the nurse must first clamp the tubing below the port to allow fresh urine to collect. Next, the port must be cleansed with an antiseptic to maintain sterility. The nurse then uses a sterile syringe to aspirate the urine, transfers it to a sterile container, and finally unclamps the tubing to allow continuous drainage to resume.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Maintaining a sterile closed drainage system when obtaining a urine culture from an indwelling catheter reduces the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and ensures diagnostic accuracy.