Indwelling urinary catheters: pattern of use in a public tertiary-level Australian hospital.

An audit of charts from patients identified as having an indwelling urinary catheter (IDC) was conducted in a 450-bed, tertiary level hospital (Concord Repatriation General Hospital) in Australia. Documentation of relevant information regarding IDC in the medical record included indication for catheterization, insertion and removal dates, use of antibiotics, place of insertion, designation of inserter, catheter type, availability of IDC kits, and use of catheter fixation devices.