Infection Control in Uroflowmetry with Self-Cleaning Uroflowmeters

Hygiene in the uroflow room is just as important as the flow curve on the screen.

Uroflowmetry is a simple, non-invasive test – but it is performed in small rooms, with many patients, often from high-risk groups. That makes infection control a critical part of everyday practice, not just a “nice extra”.

In this article, we’ll look at why infection control matters in uroflowmetry and how self-cleaning uroflowmeters help protect both patients and staff.

Why Infection Control Matters in Uroflowmetry

Most uroflowmetry tests are done on patients who may already be vulnerable:

• Elderly patients

• People with recurrent urinary tract infections

• Patients with BPH, bladder outlet obstruction or post-operative problems

Every test creates potential exposure to:

• Contaminated surfaces (seat, funnel, surrounding areas)

• Splash and aerosol from urine

• Cross-contamination between consecutive patients

Even if each individual risk is small, repeating the test many times per day can add up to a meaningful infection control challenge.

The Limits of Manual Cleaning

Traditional setups rely heavily on manual cleaning between patients . In real life, that often means:

• Time pressure: full waiting rooms and short appointment slots

• Human variability: different staff clean in different ways

• Missed areas: underside of the seat, edges, nearby walls or floor

Protocols may look perfect on paper, but they are hard to apply 100% consistently in a busy clinic or hospital. Infection control becomes person-dependent , not system-dependent.

What Makes a Uroflowmeter “Self-Cleaning”?

A self-cleaning uroflowmeter is designed so that the device automatically performs a cleaning cycle after use. Typical features include:

• Automatic flush of the bowl or funnel after each measurement

• Directed rinsing of high-splash areas

• Hands-off operation : the patient finishes the test and leaves; the device starts its cleaning cycle on its own

With Oruba Oruflow’s fully automated flush and self-cleaning design, each measurement is performed on a freshly rinsed, hygienic surface without extra staff intervention.

Cleaning is no longer an optional extra step – it is built into the workflow .

How Self-Cleaning Systems Protect Patients and Staff

1. Consistent cleaning after every test

Instead of asking “Was this cleaned properly?”, the default becomes:

The device runs the same cleaning routine after every patient.

This helps to:

• Reduce variation between one patient and the next

• Avoid skipped cleaning when staff are rushed

• Support infection control standards in a repeatable way

2. Less direct contact for staff

With manual systems, staff must approach the device and wipe urine-exposed surfaces. With self-cleaning systems, this need is reduced:

• Fewer high-risk touchpoints

• Shorter contact time with potentially contaminated areas

• Lower chance of carrying microorganisms on gloves or uniforms

That means better protection for nurses, technicians and doctors , not only for patients.

3. A visibly cleaner experience for patients

Patients notice cleanliness. A uroflowmeter that automatically flushes and refreshes itself after every use:

• Sends a clear visual signal of hygiene

• Helps anxious patients feel more comfortable using the device

• Encourages more natural voiding, which can improve test quality

In other words, hygiene supports both safety and data quality .

When Should a Clinic Consider Self-Cleaning Uroflowmeters?

Self-cleaning technology is especially valuable if your clinic:

• Performs high volumes of uroflowmetry per day

• Serves vulnerable or high-risk populations

• Has limited staff time for manual cleaning

• Is under pressure from infection control teams to standardize procedures

In these settings, a self-cleaning uroflowmeter is not just a comfort feature; it becomes a key part of your infection control strategy .

Conclusion

In uroflowmetry, good data and good hygiene should always go together.

By integrating automatic cleaning into every test, self-cleaning uroflowmeters help clinics:

• Protect patients from cross-contamination

• Reduce occupational exposure for staff

• Make infection control more consistent and less dependent on manual steps

For modern urology practices, this is a practical way to move from “we clean when we remember” to “the system is designed to stay clean.”