UK first for special catheter

BARDEX IC - the new silver alloy coated Foley catheter, supplied by Bard, could help to reduce catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) by more than a third thanks to its unique combination of slow release silver ions and hydrogel coating. This reduces the ability of bacteria to bond to the surface and to date this is the only catheter in the UK that is clinically proven to reduce infections. Senior infection control nurse Rosalind Wallis from Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust said: “This is a new and exciting technology which we hope will help us in our efforts to reduce hospital acquired infections. Over the next year we will be looking at the impact the new catheter has on our infection rates. At the same time we are also launching a comprehensive package of training and awareness to improve catheter care overall.”