Early removal of urethral Foley catheters is not an effective technique to lower infection, causing additional harm to the patient:
Clinical study finds the current protocol of early catheter removal causing unintended complications.
A 2016 study by the Department of Trauma Surgery at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine reported that the technique of early Foley catheter removal did not reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) by a statistical percentage. However, the practice did result in a dramatic increase in patient injury from retention, overdistention of the bladder, re-catheterization rate and required discharge with a catheter.
Alternatives to Indwelling Catheters Cause Unintended Complications, Nguyen, B.S., Harvey, D.N.P., R.N., Lollar, M.D., Bradburn, D.O., Hamill, M.D., Collier, D.O., Love, M.D., M.SC. Department of Trauma Surgery, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia. American Surgeon, August 2016, Vol. 82, 679-684.