[quote author=saltmachine link=topic=46056.msg346994#msg346994 date=1302971733]
got my hands on a sterile catheter once, lubed it up and inserted it into my urethra. It felt weird. Not bad. Didn't make it into the bladder, too afraid of infection.
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You might have phrased it wrongly saltmachine - but just in case you did 'handle' it, it would then no longer be sterile !
And that lube - was that sterile too, or just out of the KY type tube? Only sterile lube from a single use sachet is sterile.
And gloves? Out of the box you've had around for a while? Sterile ones only please - and research how to take them out of the pack and put them on without contamination.
And what about cleansing the urethral meatus and also creating a sterile field so that everything the catheter touches once out of the pack is sterile.
Not going into the bladder or urinating after certainly does lessen the chances of a UTI - but does not eliminate the risk.
saltmachine, getting your hands on a catheter is just the start of an important procedure !
Play nice - but play safe