Discuss the principles of infection control and prevention in relation to John’s indwelling catheter in the case study.

Assessment

Case Study 1:

John Reesbeck is a 62-year-old gentleman who has been admitted to hospital via his GP. He has a moderate learning disability and is accompanied by his support worker David. John lives at The Willows – a supported living environment where he is visited by his support workers several times a day. His girlfriend Michelle lives in the same setting and they often attend group activities at the centre.

John is normally independent in his hygiene and dressing needs, has a good appetite but has drunk less recently because it means he must go to the toilet more often. He is asthmatic and the condition is well controlled with inhalers. His support workers help John to stay in a routine with his personal care, housework, cooking, support with budget management and remind him to take his medication. John can be unsettled in unfamiliar environments.

Investigations and observations during John’s admission have identified that he has a Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE). With support from the hospital’s learning disability nurse, the diagnosis was explained to John and he was catheterised to relieve his urinary retention and referred for elective prostate surgery.

John has been in hospital for 3 days and his observations have not raised any concerns. As each attempt to remove the catheter have resulted in John going into retention plans are being discussed for his discharge home with the catheter in situ until his surgery can be scheduled later this month.

Although infection prevention and control in relation to the catheter have been discussed with John and with David his support worker, during his stay in the ward John has been dependent on nursing staff to support him with caring for his catheter. He has also been reluctant to drink more despite staff providing drinks John has said he likes. John is anxious about going home with the catheter particularly emptying it and being able to go out. He is looking forward to seeing his girlfriend Michelle as he usually sees her everyday but is worried about how she will feel if they can’t have sex.

 

Assessment questions:

1. Discuss the principles of infection control and prevention in relation to John’s indwelling catheter in the case study. (LO1)

 

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of three strategies which a nurse can use to support John. One strategy should support managing his catheter, one strategy to prevent and one to detect infection. (LO6)