Reported Reactions

Devices › Collector, urine, powered, non indwelling catheter

Device brand name · Purewick

PureWick Flex Female External Catheter: medical device reports filed with FDA

272 reports name it, 2024–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: C R Bard Covington -1018233. Product code NZU.

272
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 164 a year
220
reports, 12 months to August 2026
52 in the 12 months before
16.9%
classified as malfunction
51.6% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 272 reports that name the brand "PureWick Flex Female External Catheter" (purewick), received between November 2024 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is C R Bard Covington -1018233. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

220 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 323% from 52 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are injury (83.1%) and malfunction (16.9%); across all collector, urine, powered, non indwelling catheter reports (product code NZU) death is recorded in 0.3% and malfunction in 51.6%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are decrease in suction (20.2%), patient device interaction problem (9.2%) and fluid/blood leak (8.1%). The patient problems coded most often are urinary tract infection, skin inflammation/ irritation and appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

03161Sep 2021: 0Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 0Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 0Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 0Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 0Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 0Mar 2023: 0Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 0Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 0Aug 2023: 0Sep 2023: 0Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 0Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 0Feb 2024: 0Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 0Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 0Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 0Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 3Dec 2024: 22025Jan 2025: 1Feb 2025: 8Mar 2025: 3Apr 2025: 7May 2025: 3Jun 2025: 4Jul 2025: 9Aug 2025: 12Sep 2025: 61Oct 2025: 17Nov 2025: 22Dec 2025: 162026Jan 2026: 7Feb 2026: 18Mar 2026: 16Apr 2026: 9May 2026: 15Jun 2026: 11Jul 2026: 15Aug 2026: 13

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

0821632024: 520242025: 16320252026: 1042026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury83.1%226
Malfunction16.9%46
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%272
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 3,997 reports carrying product code NZU. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Decrease in suction5520.2%40%
Patient device interaction problem259.2%5.9%
Fluid/blood leak228.1%3.2%
Biocompatibility82.9%11.5%
Device dislodged or dislocated31.1%0.3%
Positioning failure31.1%0.8%
Increase in suction20.7%4.6%
Component misassembled10.4%0.3%
Disconnection10.4%0.3%
Insufficient device problem information10.4%0.3%
Malposition of device10.4%1.1%
Nonstandard device10.4%0.5%
Sharp edges10.4%0.3%
Suction failure10.4%1.3%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Urinary tract infectionbladder or urinary infection15757.7%
Skin inflammation/ irritation217.7%
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available124.4%
Rashskin rash124.4%
Fungal infectiona fungal infection93.3%
Painpain, site not specified82.9%
Burning sensationa burning feeling72.6%
Hypersensitivity/allergic reaction72.6%
Skin discoloration72.6%
Discomfortdiscomfort62.2%
Pressure sore/ulcer62.2%
Bacterial infectiona bacterial infection41.5%
Abrasion31.1%
Tissue breakdown31.1%
Blistera blister20.7%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasurePureWick Flex Female External CatheterProduct code NZUAll MAUDE reports
Reports2723,99726,136,888
Share of that pool—6.8%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports039
Classified as injury83.1%48%36.2%
Classified as malfunction16.9%51.6%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%99%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code NZU

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
PureWick Urine Collection System1,4941,1290.1%
PureWick Female External Catheter1,1781140.6%
Unknown Purewick Female External Catheter151990.7%
Sl Foley Swivel Silicone 25bx16900%
All Silicone Catheter170100%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about PureWick Flex Female External Catheter reports

How many FDA reports name PureWick Flex Female External Catheter?

272 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 220 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (83.1%) and malfunction (16.9%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

decrease in suction (20.2%), patient device interaction problem (9.2%), fluid/blood leak (8.1%), biocompatibility (2.9%) and device dislodged or dislocated (1.1%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that PureWick Flex Female External Catheter was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.