The urinary catheter is one of the things about staying in hospitals that men (and women) loathe but infectious bacteria love.

In a study from University of Michigan Health System and the VA Hospitals in Seattle and Ann arbor, Mich., comparing external or "condom" catheter with the usual "indwelling" catheter showed that there was an 80% reduction in the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) or death when condom catheters were used.

Condom catheters were also seen as more comfortable and non-painful.

"It has implications for many hospitalized patients, 25 percent of whom use catheters, but also for patients in nursing homes and at home."

In addition to being associated with a lower risk of infection, the condom catheters were much better liked than the indwelling ones, the study showed. Nearly 90 percent of the condom catheter users said the device was comfortable and only 5 percent said they were painful, compared with about 58 percent and 36 percent, respectively, for indwelling catheter users.

Read more at Science Daily.

Photo Credit: Allegro Medical