The color purple: Purple urine bag syndrome: Identifying the phenomenon to ease unnecessary anxiety, fear, and distress

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) is a condition that causes an intense purple discoloration of the urine, predominately in frail, dependent, and bedridden persons who are chronically catheterized and have urinary tract infections. Despite being considered a benign syndrome, PUBS can cause great anxiety, fear, and distress in health professionals, chronically ill persons, and caregivers or family members who provide care. Methods We report the case of a 98-year-old institutionalized woman with Alzheimer’s dementia with a long-term urinary catheter who developed PUBS. Results Although alarming and distressing for the resident and the health-care team, PUBS was resolved by treating the underlying urinary tract infection and applying good genital hygiene and catheter replacement. Significance of results Identifying PUBS and its clinical features and management proved to be significantly helpful in ameliorating the anxiety, fear, and distress around the phenomenon.