Purple urine bag syndrome: case series

Abstract

Purple urine bag syndrome is an uncommon condition that occurs in patients with long-standing indwelling urinary catheters, due to urinary tract infection (UTI) by bacteria producing sulfatase or phosphatase enzymes. This results in the formation of the pigments indigo (blue) and indirubin (red), together providing a purple appearance to urine. Management includes a change of catheter and appropriate antibiotics. Although prognosis is usually favourable, rare incidences of complications like Fournier’s gangrene have been reported.

We report three patients who developed purple urine bag syndrome: a man in his late 50s, a woman in her early 30s and a woman in her early 70s, who were on home-based care with regular home visits by the specialist palliative care team. None of them had any other signs or symptoms suggestive of UTIs. Their urinary catheters and collection bags were changed and proper catheter care was reinforced. All three patients were given antibiotics based on urine culture and sensitivity results. Following the same, urine colour reverted to normal in all patients and none of them had any recurrence.

We would like to underline the importance of identifying purple urine bag syndrome as an indicator of underlying UTI, especially in palliative care settings, where patients may not manifest the classical signs and symptoms of UTI. We also would like to highlight the importance of patient and caregiver education on proper catheter care for prevention.