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Is Purple Urine Dangerous?

Nicole Valentine
Nicole Valentine
June 6, 2024
•
2
min read
Technically reviewed by: 
Charisse Cartin
Is Purple Urine Dangerous?
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What Is Purple Urine?

Purple-colored urine is a rare condition that sometimes occurs in catheterized individuals. It's commonly known as purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS). Although PUBS can occasionally result from bile acids passing into the urine, it's more commonly associated with a urinary tract infection (UTI). 

Some of the risk factors for purple urine include [1]: 

  • Older age
  • Being female
  • Dementia 
  • Chronic constipation
  • Chronic kidney disease

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The urine's purple color is due to the interaction of tryptophan (a substance in food), bacteria from a UTI, and the plastic of the catheter bag and tubing [2].

‍

A urinary catheter is a flexible tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine when someone can't urinate on their own.

‍

Is Purple Urine Dangerous? 

In PUBS, the purple discoloration of urine is harmless, but any underlying infection should be treated with antibiotics [2]. UTI test strips can help determine if you have a urinary tract infection. In addition, your healthcare provider can order a urine culture to identify the type of bacteria causing the infection [3]. 

Along with treating any present infection, the catheter and urine collection bag should also be changed. Treatment is critical to prevent a worsening infection that could potentially result in sepsis [2].

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At-Home Urine Testing

Experiencing purple urine can be both confusing and upsetting. While the condition requires treatment by a healthcare professional, it's important to keep in mind that the discoloration itself is benign, and the underlying cause is typically manageable [2]. 

Urine test strips can help identify if your urine discoloration is the result of an infection. Use Diagnox's UTI test or Urinox-10 test strips from the comfort of your home to determine whether a urinary tract infection is causing your purple urine. Urinalysis test strips from Diagnox are reliable and easy to use. Be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider to ensure appropriate treatment. 

References

[1] R. Barnes and J. Hornbeck, “Purple Urine Bag Syndrome: A visual diagnosis and what it means for your patient,” Academic Life in Emergency Medicine, Sept. 23, 2020 [Accessed May 1, 2024].

[2] S. Pandey, T. Pandey, A. Sharma, and S. Sankhwar, “Purple urine bag syndrome: what every primary healthcare provider should know,” BMJ Case Reports, 2018. [Accessed May 2, 2024].

[3] M. Saraireh, S. Gharaibeh, M. Araydah, S. A. Sharie, F. Haddad, and A. Alrababah, “Violet discoloration of urine: A case report and a literature review," Annals of Medicine and Surgery, vol. 68, August 2021. Available here, [Accessed May 2, 2024].

About the Author
Nicole Valentine

Nicole Valentine is a blog and article writer with experience writing about a huge array of topics. She is passionate about sustainability, healthy living, and mindful parenting.

About the Reviewer
This blog was
Technically reviewed by: 
Charisse Cartin

Charisse Cartin is a talented and dedicated editor who has contributed significantly to this blog.

The blog was also reviewed by the Diagnox content team. Diagnox Staff consists of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, content writers, and healthcare professionals with an expertise to create and review high-quality, informative, accurate, and easy-to-understand content for both professionals and everyday readers. Our staff follows strict guidelines to ensure the credibility and authenticity of the information, reviewing them independently and verifying them by various scientific and technical sources to ensure accuracy. Our review team believes in delivering knowledge free from bias to improve public health and well-being.

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