UroShield for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections

1.1 More research is recommended on UroShield for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs). It has potential to provide significant patient and healthcare system benefits but uncertainties in the evidence need to be addressed.

1.2 Research should be comparative, and it should address uncertainties about the effectiveness of UroShield in preventing catheter-associated UTIs and other catheter-related complaints such as blockages. Find out more in the further research section of this guidance.

Why the committee made these recommendations

Standard care for preventing catheter-associated UTIs includes good hygiene, reviewing the frequency of planned catheter changes, increasing fluid intake, and documenting blockages. UroShield is an add-on to standard care.

The evidence on UroShield is limited but it suggests it may reduce bacteria in the urine (bacteriuria), infections, and catheter-related problems. Most of the studies measured bacteria in the urine. But it is not certain that this is the best way to detect changes in catheter-associated UTIs and the effectiveness of UroShield.

There is strong expert and patient support for UroShield. Patients and clinical experts anecdotally describe fewer infections, catheter blockages, and catheter-related problems when using UroShield. It may especially help people with long-term catheters in the community and may address a significant unmet clinical need.

Cost analyses suggest UroShield may be cost saving in hospital and in people with repeated UTIs or catheter blockages in community care. But because the clinical effectiveness of UroShield is uncertain and the published evidence very limited, the cost savings are also uncertain. More research is therefore recommended.