Purple urine bag syndrome as a harbinger of death : a case report in palliative care

"Purple Urine Bag Syndrome" (PUBS) is a rare condition characterised by a violet discoloration of the urine collection bag in patients with an indwelling urinary catheter. While generally benign, PUBS can be associated with underlying problems such as urinary tract infections, dependency, particularly in elderly and frail patients. We present the case of a 93-year-old female Burkinabe patient with multiple comorbidities who was receiving palliative care at home. The patient presented with severe malnutrition, pressure ulcers, and an indwelling urinary catheter for over three months. The appearance of violet discoloration in the urine collection bag was observed eight months after the initiation of palliative care. This case raises questions about the prognostic significance of PUBS in end-of-life patients. The patient's fatal outcome suggests that PUBS, while often considered benign, could be associated with a poor prognosis in elderly and frail patients. Received: June 18th, 2024 Accepted: October 29th, 2024 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/aamed.v18i1.16