Initial inappropriate urinary catheters use in a tertiary-care center: incidence, risk factors, and outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiology and outcomes for initiation of inappropriate urinary catheterization (IUC) among hospitalized patients.

Setting: A 450-bed, tertiary-care hospital.

Patients: All patients admitted to the hospital from September 1, 2003 to June 12, 2004 with urinary catheter (UC).