(Rev. 173, Issued: 11-22-17, Effective: 11-28-17, Implementation: 11-28-17)
§483.25(e) Incontinence.
§483.25(e)(1) The facility must ensure that a resident who is continent of bladder and bowel on admission receives services and assistance to maintain continence unless his or her clinical condition is or becomes such that continence is not possible to maintain.
§483.25(e)(2) For a resident with urinary incontinence, based on the resident’s comprehensive assessment, the facility must ensure that—
§483.25(e)(3) For a resident with fecal incontinence, based on the resident’s comprehensive assessment, the facility must ensure that a resident who is incontinent of bowel receives appropriate treatment and services to restore as much normal bowel function as possible.
INTENT
The intent of this requirement is to ensure that:
NOTE: F690 includes the appropriate treatment and services to restore bowel function for a resident with fecal incontinence, however, for concerns related to bowel management (such as constipation, fecal impaction), refer to F684 – Quality of care
DEFINITIONS
“Bacteremia” is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.
“Bacteriuria” is defined as the presence of bacteria in the urine.
“Continence” refers to any void that occurs voluntarily, or as the result of prompted, assisted, or scheduled use of the bathroom.
“Sepsis” is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to an infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
“Urinary Incontinence” is the involuntary loss or leakage of urine.
“Urinary Retention” is the inability to completely empty the urinary bladder by micturition.
“Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)” is a clinically detectable condition associated with invasion by disease causing microorganisms of some part of the urinary tract, including the urethra (urethritis), bladder (cystitis), ureters (ureteritis), and/or kidney (pyelonephritis). An infection of the urethra or bladder is classified as a lower tract UTI and infection involving the ureter or kidney is classified as an upper tract UTI.
GUIDANCE §483.25(e)
A resident who is continent of bladder on admission must receive care, including assistance, and services to maintain continence unless his/her clinical condition is or becomes such that continence is not possible to maintain. If a resident is admitted with incontinence of bladder, he/she receives appropriate treatment and services to prevent urinary tract infections and to restore as much normal bladder function as possible.
Urinary incontinence generally involves a number of transitory or progressive factors that affect the bladder and/or the urethral sphincter. Any condition, medication, or factor that affects lower urinary tract function, bladder capacity, urination, or the ability to toilet can predispose residents to urinary incontinence and may contribute to incomplete bladder emptying.
Assessment
A resident should be assessed at admission regarding continence status and whenever there is a change in urinary tract function, such as if a resident is admitted who is continent of urine, and subsequently becomes incontinent. The identification of reversible and irreversible (e.g., bladder tumors, spinal cord disease) causes of incontinence, including the type of incontinence, provides direction for the development of appropriate interventions. It is important that staff, when completing the comprehensive assessment, consider the following:
Types of Urinary Incontinence
Identifying the nature of the incontinence is a key aspect of the assessment and helps identify the appropriate program/interventions to address incontinence. There are several types of urinary incontinence, and the individual resident may experience more than one type at a time. Some of the more common types include:
Refer to §483.10(e) (3), F558, Accommodation of Needs for issues regarding unmet environmental needs (e.g., handicap toilet, lighting, assistive devices.
NOTE: Treating the physiological causes of incontinence, without attending to functional components that may have an impact on the resident’s continence, may fail to solve the incontinence problem.
Interventions
A number of factors may contribute to the development of incontinence, or decline or lack of improvement in urinary continence, such as an underlying medical condition.an inaccurate assessment of the resident’s type of incontinence, or lack of knowledge about the resident’s voiding patterns. This may contribute to inappropriate interventions or unnecessary use of an indwelling catheter. Facility practices that may promote achieving the highest practicable level of functioning, may prevent the development of incontinence, or minimize a decline or lack of improvement in degree of continence include providing treatment and services to address factors that are potentially modifiable, such as:
Options for managing urinary incontinence in nursing home residents include primarily behavioral programs and medication therapy. Other measures and supportive devices used in the management of urinary incontinence and/or urinary retention may include intermittent catheterization; pelvic organ support devices (pessaries); biofeedback; the use of incontinence products, garments and an external collection system for men and women; and environmental accommodation and/or modification.
Behavioral Programs
Interventions involving the use of behavioral programs are among the least invasive approaches to address urinary incontinence and have no known adverse complications. Behavior programs involve efforts to modify the resident’s behavior and/or environment. Critical aspects of a successful behavioral program include education of the caregiver and the resident, availability of the staff and the consistent implementation of the interventions.
NOTE: It is important for the comprehensive assessment to identify the essential skills the resident must possess, such as the resident’s ability to: comprehend and follow instructions; identify urinary urge; control the urge to void until reaching a toilet; and/or respond to prompts to void. Voiding records help detect urinary patterns or intervals between incontinence episodes and facilitate planning care to avoid or reduce the frequency of episodes.
Programs that require the resident’s cooperation and motivation in order for learning and practice to occur include the following:
Programs that are dependent on staff involvement and assistance, as opposed to resident function, include the following:
Residents who are assessed with urge or mixed incontinence and are cognitively impaired may be candidates for prompted voiding. As the resident’s cognition changes, the facility should consider other factors, such as mobility, when deciding to conduct a voiding trial to determine feasibility of an ongoing program to use the bathroom; and
Intermittent Catheterization
Sterile insertion and removal of a catheter through the urethra every 3-6 hours for bladder drainage may be appropriate for the management of acute or chronic urinary retention.
See additional discussion below in “Catheterization”.
Medication Therapy
Medications are often used to treat specific types of incontinence, including stress incontinence and those categories associated with an overactive bladder, which may involve symptoms including urge incontinence, urinary urgency, frequency and nocturia. The current literature identifies classifications and names of medications used for various types of incontinence. When using medications, potentially problematic anticholinergic and other side effects must be recognized. The use of medication therapy to treat urinary incontinence may not be appropriate for some residents because of potential adverse interactions with their other medications or other co-morbid conditions. The resident/representative must be provided with the risks and benefits of using medications for continence management.
Pessary
A pessary is an intra-vaginal device used to treat pelvic muscle relaxation or prolapse of pelvic organs. Women whose urine retention or urinary incontinence is exacerbated by bladder or uterine prolapse may benefit from placement of a pessary. Female residents may be admitted to the nursing home with a pessary device. The assessment should note whether the resident has a pessary in place or has had a history of successful pessary use. If a pessary is used, the plan of care must address the use, care and ongoing management of the pessary including monitoring for complications.
Absorbent Products, Devices, and External Collection Devices
Absorbent incontinence products include perineal pads or panty liners for slight leakage, undergarments and protective underwear for moderate to heavy leakage, guards and drip collection pouches for men, and products (called adult briefs) for moderate or heavy loss. Absorbent products can be a useful, rational way to manage incontinence; however, every absorbent product has a saturation point. Factors contributing to the selection of the type of product to be used should include the severity of incontinence, gender, fit, and ease of use.
Advantages of using absorbent products to manage urinary incontinence include the ability to contain urine (some may wick the urine away from the skin), provide protection for clothing, and preserve the resident’s dignity and comfort.
NOTE: Although many residents have used absorbent products prior to admission to the nursing home and the use of absorbent products may be appropriate, absorbent products should not be used as the primary long term approach to continence management until the resident has been appropriately evaluated and other alternative approaches have been considered.
It is important that residents using various devices, absorbent products, external collection devices, etc., be checked (and changed as needed) on a schedule based upon the resident’s voiding pattern, professional standards of practice, and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Skin-Related Complications
Skin problems associated with incontinence and moisture can range from irritation to increased risk of skin breakdown. Moisture may make the skin more susceptible to damage from friction and shear during repositioning. For a resident with an external catheter, compromise to the skin may also occur.
One form of early skin breakdown is maceration or the softening of tissue by soaking. Macerated skin has a white appearance and a very soft, sometimes “soggy” texture. The persistent exposure of perineal skin to urine and/or feces can irritate the epidermis and can cause severe dermatitis, skin erosion and/or ulcerations. Skin erosion is the loss of some or all of the epidermis (comparable to a deep chemical peel) leaving a slightly depressed area of skin.
Because frequent washing with soap and water can dry the skin, the use of a perineal rinse may be indicated.
CATHETERIZATION
Sections 483.25(e)(2)(i) and (ii), Incontinence, requires that a resident who enters the facility without an indwelling catheter is not catheterized unless the resident’s clinical condition demonstrates that catheterization was necessary; or that a resident who enters the facility with an indwelling urinary catheter or subsequently receives one is assessed for removal of the catheter as soon as possible unless the resident’s clinical condition demonstrates that catheterization is necessary. The facility is responsible for the assessment of the resident at risk for urinary catheterization and the ongoing assessment for the resident who currently has a catheter, including the removal of the catheter as soon as possible when the resident’s clinical condition demonstrates the catheter is no longer necessary. While the use of a catheter may promote skin integrity and assessment of output, it is also associated with the increase risk of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), including the development of sepsis.
A catheter that is used for appropriate indications and in a dignified manner may enhance an individual’s independence and dignity. Conversely, an improperly or indiscreetly used catheter may negatively impact independence and dignity.
NOTE: For concerns related to the care for a resident with a urostomy or nephrostomy, refer to §483.25(f) - Colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care at tag F691.
In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the definition of a suprapubic catheter is one that “is surgically inserted into the bladder through an incision above the pubis. For care of a resident with a suprapubic catheter, refer to current professional guidelines such as the following; http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.wocn.org/resource/resmgr/publications/Care_&_Mgmt_Pt s_w_Urinary_Ca.pdf
Assessment
Regardless of the admission status, a comprehensive assessment should address those factors that predispose the resident to the development of urinary incontinence and the use of an indwelling urinary catheter. An admission evaluation of the resident’s medical history and a physical examination helps identify the resident at risk for requiring the use of an indwelling urinary catheter. This evaluation is to include detection of reversible causes of incontinence and identification of individuals with incontinence caused by conditions that may not be reversible, such as bladder tumors and spinal cord diseases.
The assessment of continence/incontinence is based upon a comprehensive, interdisciplinary review and assessment. The comprehensive assessment should include identifying the underlying factors which support the clinical indication for the initiation and continuing need for catheter use, determination of which factors can be modified or reversed (or rationale for why those factors should not be modified), and the development of a plan for removal. The clinician’s decision to use an indwelling catheter in the elderly should be based on valid clinical indicators.
For the resident with an indwelling catheter, the facility’s documented assessment and staff knowledge of the resident should include information to support the use of an indwelling catheter. Because of the risk of substantial complications with the use of indwelling urinary catheters, they should be reserved primarily for short-term decompression of acute urinary retention. The assessment should include consideration of the risks and benefits of an indwelling (suprapubic or urethral) catheter; the potential for removal of the catheter; and consideration of complications resulting from the use of an indwelling catheter, such as symptoms of blockage of the catheter with associated bypassing of urine, expulsion of the catheter, pain, discomfort and bleeding.
Intermittent Catheterization
Intermittent catheterization can often manage overflow incontinence effectively. Residents who have new onset incontinence from a transient, hypotonic/atonic bladder (usually seen following indwelling catheterization in the hospital) may benefit from intermittent bladder catheterization until the bladder tone returns (e.g., up to approximately 7 days). A voiding trial and post void residual can help identify when bladder tone has returned.
Indwelling Urinary Catheter Use
If the facility provides care for a resident with an indwelling catheter, in collaboration with the medical director and director of nurses, and based upon current professional standards of practice, resident care policies and procedures must be developed and implemented that address catheter care and services, including but not limited to:
The resident’s record must include how and when the resident/representative was involved and informed of care and treatment including the potential use and indications for the need for a catheter, how long use is anticipated, and when and why a catheter must be removed. The resident/representative must be included in the development of the care plan including the use of the catheter and associated interventions. In addition, the resident/representative has the right to decline the treatment. Based on current professional standards of practice, information and education of the resident/representative on the identification of risks and benefits for the use of a catheter must be documented.
Anecdotally, it has been reported that residents or their representatives have requested the use of and/or declined to allow the removal of an indwelling urinary catheter. The record must contain documentation as to why a resident/representative chooses to have or chooses to continue to use a catheter in the absence of clinical indications for use. After determining the reasons, staff and the attending practitioner must document the provision of counseling to assist the resident in understanding the clinical implications and risks associated with the use of a catheter without an indication for continued use. The care plan must be revised to address the education being provided, including interventions to restore as much urinary function as possible without the use of catheter.
Documentation in the resident’s record must reflect the attending practitioner’s valid clinical indication to support the use of an indwelling catheter.
NOTE: The following Table from the CDC, includes examples for appropriate indications for indwelling catheter use and includes both acute and long term care. This table has been adapted to include only those examples relevant for a long term care setting. For the full table and for guidance related to indwelling catheter management and care refer to: http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/cauti/02_cauti2009_abbrev.html
NOTE: These above indications are based on expert consensus. Additional care practices related to catheterization include:
NOTE: Refer to the CDC site for current information on catheter use, management and care at: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/ca_uti/uti.html
Catheter-Related Complications
An indwelling catheter may be associated with significant complications, including bacteremia, febrile episodes, bladder stones, fistula formation, erosion of the urethra, epididymitis, chronic renal inflammation and pyelonephritis and sepsis related to urinary tract infections. In addition, indwelling catheters are prone to blockage. Risk factors for catheter blockage include alkaline urine, poor urine flow, proteinuria, and preexisting bladder stones.
Some residents with indwelling catheters experience persistent leakage around the catheter. Examples of factors that may contribute to leakage include irritation by a large balloon or by catheter materials, excessive catheter diameter, fecal impaction, and improper catheter positioning. Changing indwelling catheters or drainage bags at routine, fixed intervals is not recommended.
(Refer to: https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/CAUTI/CAUTIguideline2009final.pdf)
Catheterization is an important, potentially modifiable, risk factor for UTI. The potential for complications can be reduced by:
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
Catheter-Related Bacteriuria and UTIs
Bacteriuria (e.g., pyuria) alone in a catheterized individual should not be treated with antibiotics. Someone with nonspecific symptoms such as a change in function or mental status, foul smelling or cloudy urine and/or, bacteriuria (e.g. pyuria), does not necessarily warrant antibiotic treatment. The decision to treat a UTI is based upon the attending practitioner conducting a thorough evaluation and assessment of the resident and providing documentation of a rationale for the indication of use of an antibiotic.
NOTE: For a non-catheterized resident with symptoms associated with a UTI, the attending practitioner should order a urine culture prior to the initiation of antibiotic therapy to help guide treatment. According to current standard of practice, an accurate urine culture for a non-catheterized resident should be obtained by a clean catch or mid- stream specimen for residents who are able to follow instructions. For those unable to provide a clean-catch, a specimen may be obtained preferably by a freshly placed condom catheter for males, or in and out catheterization for females or males unable to provide a specimen by a condom catheter. If the resident has a long-term indwelling urethral catheter, a specimen should be obtained from a freshly placed indwelling catheter. Reference - the IDSA Guidelines for Evaluation of Fever and Infection in Older Adult Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities. (High et al. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2009:48-149-71).
The surveyor should determine if facility policy for obtaining urine for cultures is based upon current standards of practice, understanding that these standards may be revised and updated over time. The facility should be able to provide the most current standard that supports the policy that they have developed and implemented. (Also refer to F880 Infection Control and F881 for antibiotic stewardship program for infection assessment tools.)
Unnecessary treatment of a UTI with antibiotics may lead to the development of multi drug resistant organisms (e.g., Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and other complications such as the development of clostridium-difficile infection, which may predispose the person to prolonged treatment potential hospitalization and may pose a threat of infection to other residents. (Also refer to F881 for antibiotic stewardship program for infection assessment tools.)
NOTE: Standards of practice may be revised and updated over time.
One current professional standard of practice that addresses criteria for use of antibiotics for UTI’s, includes:
“Minimum criteria for initiating antibiotics for an indication of urinary tract infection were considered for residents with no indwelling urinary catheters and for residents with chronic indwelling catheters.
NOTE: Reference - Loeb M, Brazil K, Lohfeld L, et al. Effect of a multifaceted intervention on number of antimicrobial prescriptions for suspected urinary tract infections in residents of nursing homes: cluster randomised controlled
trial. BMJ. 2005;331:669. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
Follow-Up of UTIs
The goal of treating a UTI is to alleviate systemic or local symptoms, not to eradicate all bacteria. Therefore, a post-treatment urine culture is not necessary but may be useful if UTI signs and symptoms continue or do not respond to antibiotic treatment. Continued bacteriuria without residual symptoms does not warrant repeat or continued antibiotic therapy. Recurrent UTIs (2 or more in 6 months) in a noncatheterized individual may warrant additional evaluation (such as a determination of an abnormal post void residual (PVR) urine volume or a referral to a urologist) to rule out structural abnormalities such as enlarged prostate, prolapsed bladder, periurethral abscess, strictures, bladder calculi, polyps and tumors.
Recurrent UTIs in a catheterized individual should lead the facility to look for possible impairment of free urine flow through the catheter, to re-evaluate the techniques being used for catheter care and for perineal hygiene including the removal of fecal soiling, and to reconsider the relative risks and benefits of continuing the use of an indwelling catheter.
Because the major factors (other than an indwelling catheter) that predispose individuals to bacteriuria, including physiological aging changes and chronic comorbid illnesses, cannot be modified readily, the facility should demonstrate that they:
FECAL INCONTINENCE
Fecal incontinence (FI) involves the unintentional loss of solid or liquid stool. A resident experiencing FI may experience feelings of shame, embarrassment, loss of independence, may tend to isolate himself/herself creating a decrease in social interactions/activities due to fear of “accidents” with associated odors, leakage and soiling of clothing or furnishings. It is important for the facility and the attending practitioner to complete a comprehensive assessment and determine, with the resident/representative, potential treatment and care plan interventions, and to provide ongoing evaluation of the response to those interventions. The resident should be re-evaluated whenever there is a change in bowel function. If the resident has FI that has already been investigated, documented, and determined to be irreversible or not significantly improvable, additional studies may be of limited value, unless there has been advancement in available treatments.
Risk factors for Fecal Incontinence
Risk factors for FI may include, aging and dependency in daily activities, smoking and pulmonary disease, arthritis in adults over 75 years of age, older adults with rectal cancer, comorbidities such as kidney disease, transient ischemic attacks in men, women with arterial hypertension, acute stroke (FI may depend on the severity of a stroke), functional dependency and need for assistance with toilet access 3 months after stroke in men and women, and poor general health and dementia. http://archive.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/fuiad/fuiad.pdf
Assessment:
To ensure that a resident who is incontinent of bowel receives appropriate treatment and services, the facility must conduct an assessment to identify the presenting symptoms and type of FI, including the potential reversible/irreversible causes and risks. Symptoms or types of FI may include (as noted in http://s3.gi.org/physicians/guidelines/FecalIncontinence.pdf):
Causes and Treatment of Fecal Incontinence
For reference, the following potential causes and treatments of FI have been adapted from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to address the long term care setting. For the full description of causes and treatment for FI, refer to:
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/fecal- incontinence/Pages/facts.aspx
Potential causes for FI may include:
Potential treatment/interventions for FI should be based upon the type of FI. Potential treatment options and interventions may include:
Care Plan
For the resident with fecal incontinence, the care plan must reflect the results of the resident’s assessment and include resident specific interventions for any potential reversible causes and, if irreversible, appropriate interventions for management of fecal incontinence. Interventions and the provision of care should address treating the resident with respect, enhancing dignity and self-worth and reducing embarrassment and shame in relation to FI. Based upon the increased risk for transmission of infection resulting from fecal contamination, the care plan should also identify the PPE appropriate for use during the delivery of care.
Complications Potentially Related to Fecal Incontinence
Complications related to fecal incontinence may include, but are not limited to, emotional distress, loss of self-esteem, social isolation, physical complications such as skin irritation/excoriation, itching, pain, and in addition, frequent loose stool may be an indicator of fecal impaction.
KEY ELEMENTS OF NONCOMPLIANCE
To cite deficient practice at F690, the surveyor's investigation will generally show that the facility failed to do one or more of the following:
INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOL
Use
Use the Bladder and Bowel Incontinence Critical Element (CE) Pathway, and/or Urinary Catheter and UTI CE Pathway, for the condition being evaluated, along with the above interpretive guidelines when determining if the facility provides the necessary care and services to meet the resident’s needs.
Summary of Procedure
Briefly review the most recent comprehensive assessments, comprehensive care plan and orders to identify whether the facility has assessed and developed an individualized care plan based on professional standards of practice and provided by qualified, competent staff. During this review, identify the extent to which the facility has implemented interventions in accordance with the resident’s needs, goals for care and professional standards of practice, consistently across all shifts. This information will guide observations and interviews to be made in order to corroborate concerns identified.
NOTE: Always observe for visual cues of psychosocial distress and harm (see Appendix P, Guidance on Severity and Scope Levels and Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide).
DEFICIENCY CATEGORIZATION
In addition to actual or potential physical harm, always consider whether psychosocial harm has occurred when determining severity level (See Appendix P, Section IV, E, Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide).
An example of Severity Level 4 Noncompliance Immediate Jeopardy to Resident Health or Safety includes but is not limited to:
Examples of Severity Level 3 Noncompliance Actual Harm that is not Immediate Jeopardy includes but is not limited to:
Examples of Severity Level 2 Considerations: No Actual Harm with Potential for More Than Minimal Harm that is Not Immediate Jeopardy include but are not limited to:
Severity Level 1: No actual harm with potential for minimal harm
The failures of the facility to provide appropriate care and services to maintain or improve continence, manage indwelling catheters, and minimize negative outcome places residents at risk for more than minimal harm. Therefore, Severity Level 1 does not apply for this regulatory requirement.
Resources
Research into appropriate practices to prevent, manage, and treat urinary incontinence, urinary catheterization, and UTI continues to evolve. Many recognized clinical resources on the prevention and management of urinary incontinence, infection, and urinary catheterization exist. Some of these resources include:
Surveillance Definitions of Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities: Revisiting the McGeer Criteria
Resources for Fecal Incontinence: