To prevent infection with a urinary catheter at home, wash hands before and after touching it, keep the drainage bag below the level of the bladder, avoid tugging, twisting or kinking the tubing, and ask the care team regularly whether the catheter is still needed. The CDC says prolonged catheter use is the most important risk factor for a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Fever, pain, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, or sudden confusion should be reported to a clinician.
This guide covers the daily routine, the safe way to empty a bag, the warning signs, and who does what: family, aide or nurse. It is general information. The person’s own clinician decides the details, and their instructions come first.
How do you prevent infection with a urinary catheter at home?
The CDC’s patient and caregiver advice is short, and the longer CDC guideline for healthcare settings explains why. The core habits are:
- Clean your hands before and after touching a long-term catheter or the bag.
- Keep the bag below the level of the bladder at all times, and never rest it on the floor.
- Do not tug, twist or kink the tubing, and keep urine draining freely.
- Keep the catheter secured so it does not move or pull on the urethra.
- Keep the drainage system closed. If it is disconnected or leaks, the CDC guideline says to replace the catheter and collecting system using sterile equipment, which is a clinician’s job.
- Ask regularly whether the catheter is still needed.
What is a safe daily routine for an indwelling catheter?
MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s patient information service, describes an indwelling catheter routine that you can build into the day:
- Wash hands well with soap and water, including between the fingers and under the nails.
- Clean the skin once a day, or more often if needed. Use mild soap, warm water and a clean washcloth around where the catheter enters. Women wipe front to back, and men wipe from the tip of the penis downward. Rinse, pat dry, and avoid creams, powders or sprays in the area.
- Clean the catheter twice a day. Hold it gently and start at the end nearest the body, moving away. Never clean from the bottom of the tube toward the body.
- Secure the catheter to the inner thigh with the fastening device the nurse gave you.
- Check the system through the day. Keep the bag below the waist, look for kinks if nothing is draining, and avoid disconnecting the catheter more than necessary.
The CDC guideline adds that antiseptics should not be used to clean the area around the urethra while the catheter is in place. Routine hygiene, such as washing the area during daily bathing, is appropriate. Drinking plenty of water helps keep urine flowing, but ask the clinician how much is right for the person.
How do you empty a urine drainage bag safely?
MedlinePlus says to empty a leg bag into the toilet at least two or three times a day, or when it is a third to half full. The CDC guideline adds that each person should have their own clean collecting container, splashing should be avoided, and the drainage spout should never touch a nonsterile container.
The MedlinePlus steps for a leg bag are:
- Wash your hands well.
- Keep the bag below the hip or bladder while you work.
- Hold the bag over the toilet or the container the doctor gave you, and open the spout.
- Do not let the spout touch the rim of the toilet or container.
- Clean the spout with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or gauze, then close it tightly.
- Do not set the bag on the floor. Reattach it to the leg.
- Wash your hands again.
On changing bags, the sources differ. MedlinePlus says to change a leg bag once or twice a month, and sooner if it smells or looks dirty. The CDC guideline for healthcare settings advises against changing catheters or bags at routine, fixed intervals and suggests changing them for clinical reasons such as infection, obstruction, or a broken closed system. Ask the nurse which schedule the person’s team wants.
| Common habit | What the guidance says |
|---|---|
| Cleaning around the catheter with antiseptic | CDC: do not use antiseptics there. Daily washing during bathing is appropriate. |
| Flushing or irrigating the bladder routinely | CDC guideline: not recommended unless a clinician anticipates an obstruction. |
| Changing the catheter on a calendar | CDC guideline: not recommended at fixed intervals. Change for infection, obstruction or a compromised system. |
| Disconnecting the bag to “check” it | MedlinePlus: disconnect as little as possible. Keeping it connected helps it work. |
| Resting the bag on the floor | CDC and MedlinePlus: keep it off the floor and below the bladder. |
What are the signs of a catheter infection?
A UTI is the most common problem for people with an indwelling urinary catheter, according to MedlinePlus. In an older person, mental changes or confusion may be the only sign. Report these to the clinician:
| What you notice | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Fever or chills | Possible infection, including a kidney infection |
| Pain in the sides, lower back, bladder or pelvis, or burning | Common UTI symptoms listed by MedlinePlus and CDC |
| Urine that smells bad, looks cloudy or a different color, or contains blood | Report it, along with other symptoms |
| Leaking around the catheter, discharge at the site, or no urine draining | May mean a blockage or a problem with the catheter |
| New confusion, tiredness or feeling unlike themselves | Can be the only sign of infection in an older person |
MedlinePlus notes that urine from the bag often tests abnormal in people with an indwelling catheter even without an infection, which is why symptoms matter to the provider. In an emergency, call 911.
Who does what: family, aide or nurse?
The Department of Health’s Health Related Tasks Curriculum for home health aides includes assisting with condom catheters, cleaning skin and catheter tubing, and emptying the urinary drainage bag. Putting in or changing an indwelling catheter, and treating an infection, belong to a provider.
| Task | Family | Home health aide | Nurse or provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand hygiene, bag position, emptying the bag | Yes, once shown how | Yes, taught in the state curriculum | Teaches and checks |
| Skin and tubing cleaning | Yes, once shown how | Yes, taught in the state curriculum | Teaches and checks |
| Spotting and reporting symptoms | Yes | Yes, reports to the nurse | Assesses |
| Inserting or changing an indwelling catheter, deciding on treatment | No | No | Yes |
Our pages on nurse services, private duty nursing and personal care services explain how these roles fit together. For a general overview, see catheter care at home.
When can the catheter come out?
Often the question is not how to clean the catheter but whether it should still be there. The CDC says to ask frequently whether it is still needed. If someone has repeated infections, MedlinePlus says the provider may remove the catheter, ask the person to use intermittent catheterization, suggest other urine collection devices, or use a special coated catheter. Surgery that eliminates the need for a catheter may also be discussed.
Questions worth taking to the next appointment:
- Why does the person have a catheter, and when will we review that decision?
- Which bag change schedule do you want us to follow?
- Which symptoms should we call about, and who do we call after hours?
- Can an aide empty the bag, and what must stay with a nurse?
We are a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens, licence #2572L001, New York State Department of Health. Families often ask how aide hours and nursing visits can work together around a catheter. Call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page, or read about our in-home care services.
This is general information, not medical advice. It was checked on 9 October 2026 against the CDC, MedlinePlus and the New York State Department of Health. The CDC guideline was written for healthcare settings, so follow the instructions given by the person’s own clinician for home use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest risk factor for a catheter-associated UTI?
Prolonged use of a urinary catheter, according to the CDC. That is why families should keep asking the provider whether the catheter is still needed.
Where should the urine bag be placed?
Below the level of the bladder at all times and off the floor. This keeps urine from flowing back toward the bladder.
How often should a catheter bag be emptied?
MedlinePlus says to empty a leg bag at least two or three times a day, or when it is a third to half full. Follow the schedule the care team gives you.
Should I clean around the catheter with antiseptic?
No. The CDC guideline says not to clean the area around the urethra with antiseptics while the catheter is in place. Daily washing with mild soap and water is appropriate.
How often should a catheter be changed?
The CDC guideline advises against routine fixed-interval changes and suggests changing for clinical reasons such as infection or obstruction. The schedule is a decision for the person’s provider.
What are the signs of a catheter infection?
Fever or chills, pain in the sides, back, bladder or pelvis, burning, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, blood, leaking or discharge at the site. In older adults, new confusion can be the only sign.
Can a home health aide empty a catheter bag?
The state’s training curriculum for home health aides includes emptying the urinary drainage bag and cleaning the skin and tubing. Inserting or changing an indwelling catheter is for a provider.
