Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Seek emergency medical help for signs of severe infection or sepsis, including:
Severe breathlessness or very fast breathing
New marked confusion, extreme drowsiness, or difficulty waking
Fainting, collapse, or cold and mottled skin
Severe weakness with rapidly worsening illness
Very little urine along with feeling seriously unwell
Severe pain with fever and repeated vomiting
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Contact your usual healthcare service promptly if you have possible infection symptoms, such as a new fever, chills, lower abdominal pain, side or back pain, or new pain when passing urine after catheter removal.
You should also get prompt advice if:
The catheter stops draining and your bladder feels full or painful
Urine repeatedly leaks around the catheter
There is new or increasing blood in the urine
The catheter falls out
Symptoms worsen or do not improve after treatment begins
You develop a new medication reaction
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Check that you are following your fluid plan and that the tubing is draining, then seek routine advice if the change continues.
The article also says
A change in urine smell, colour, or cloudiness without other symptoms is usually not an emergency.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Catheter-related UTI. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.