Urinary Catheter Insertion Kits and Trays

A catheter insertion tray stores the supplies necessary for successful catheterization in a sterile environment. For added convenience, the supplies are stacked in the order you or your healthcare professional will use them to minimize the possibility of contamination. The tray itself is used during the catheterization process to apply disinfectant to wipes or swabs and lubricate the catheter. Some popular brands are Cure® Universal Catheter Insertion Tray and the Bardia Foley Catheterization Tray.

A catheter kit contains the items necessary to sterilize and prepare a patient for safe catheterization and may include a catheter, fenestrated drapes, an underpad, tweezers, a 10 cc syringe, iodine, two powder-free gloves, antiseptic swabs, a graduated collection tray, specimen sample container, inflation water, or lubricant. To help prevent bladder or urinary tract infections, every item inside the kit is sterile. In some instances, the intermittent or Foley catheter and drainage bag may not be included so be sure to check the item description before purchasing. In preparation for the catheterization process, verify the contents of the kit to make sure you have everything you need prior to opening the package and exposing the sterile field.

Place the unopened catheter kit on a tray near the patient’s bed or between the patient’s legs. Most importantly, the kit should be placed where you can easily access it with your dominant hand. Since the contents of the package are sterile, be extremely careful to remove the outer packaging without touching anything inside. For your convenience, most manufacturers will package catheterization supplies in the order you will use them to minimize the risk of contamination. After carefully opening the outer wrapping, lift the first drape by the corners on the shiny side and position it over the patient’s genitalia. Then put on the sterile gloves to complete the catheterization process. Please note, once you touch the patient or bedding, your gloved hand is no longer sterile and should not touch anything else in the catheter insertion tray kit.

Useful Tips from Healthcare Professionals:

• Use the outer wrapping of the catheter kit as a convenient waste receptacle during the catheterization process.
• Only use your dominant hand to touch the kit contents and your other hand to touch the patient to prevent the risk of infection.

Since urinary catheterization involves a very sensitive area of the body, the procedure can be uncomfortable. An anesthetic gel is useful in reducing pain in the insertion region. You may experience discomfort while wearing the catheter, but most people become accustomed to it over time. If discomfort persists, you may find relief in added lubrication or another catheter style, tip, or size.

Catheters are available in many sizes and with several tip styles to accommodate anatomical differences. For example, if a patient has urethral irritation, blockage, fissures, or other restrictions, a coude tip catheter may be more comfortable during the insertion process than a straight tip catheter. Depending on the underlying medical condition requiring catheterization, an external or intermittent catheter may be a welcomed alternative to an indwelling catheter.

Catheter insertion kits most often include the catheter; however, not all supplies are included in every kit. Be certain to check the item description to verify the contents before purchasing. Most experienced healthcare professionals also advise checking the package label for included catheterization products before opening it and exposing the sterile field.

After exposing the sterilized environment, the reuse of catheterization supplies increases your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) and other healthcare-associated infections (HAI). In fact, the Center for Disease Control recommends against prolonged use of catheters, and the FDA classifies catheters as single-use medical devices. This health concern is the reason why vendors sell urethral catheter trays in sterile, disposable packages.