Purple urine bag syndrome: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Purple Urine Bag Syndrome (PUBS) is purple discoloration of urine and is common in bedridden patients with long-term urinary catheter. Although typically benign, the purple discoloration is alarming to both the patients and their attendants. CASE REPORT: This case report presents an uncommon case of PUBS in a 74-year-old lady with hypertension, type II diabetes and ischemic stroke from last 2 years. She has neurogenic bladder and has been catheterized from last 2 years. Her last catheter was changed 15 days back. She presented to the emergency room with complaints of change in color of urine with low grade fever from last 1 week. on clinical examination there was one bed sore on lumbar region that was grade 1 with pus oozing from base of ulcer. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: PUBS is generally associated with alkaline urine and in patients who was chronically catheterized as was observed in this patient, although it has also been reported in acidic urine. CONCLUSION: PUBS is a rare manifestation of urinary tract infection with an alarming appearance and can be a source of anxiety for patients and their families. Being asymptomatic and comparatively benign, purple discoloration is simply an indicator of underlying bacteriuria and is of no prognostic value.