My catheter and urine smell like a campfire

@delmar418 Is this a catheter in place for urine expression? It sounds like you might have an infection, and it is my opinion only, that you should get to your doctor right away.
Ginger

Yes, it is an indwelling urethral catheter. It is due for a change soon.

@delmar418 "Soon" might be now?
Ginger

Yeah. Looking forward to that. Thanks, Ginger. Enjoy the rest of your day.

@delmar418
Good morning although it sounds like it could be better.
I agree with Ginger.
Do you use lubricating gel with an anesthetic like lidocaine during insertion? If not, might help.
Jake

Hi Leonard, I agree with Ginger too. I got the damned thing swapped out today and it was harrowing. I tested positive for the normal stuff that collects in catheters but it was "complicated."
Leukocytes over 500, PH:7, Nitrtrates positive, Protein: 30 and erthyrocytes at 25.
I have to take Bactrim ES for seven days and use a leg bag each day for those seven, I'll even use a bag for five additional days after. I have an MRI prostate on the 27th with gadolinium contrast; since I had a 75 GFR in December, I was able to get in a GFR a week ahead of that to be safe. Gad is toxic on the "kids." They have better "gad" contrasts nowadays but I don't want to risk it without knowing my renal function.

No, I don't use any anesthetic lube jelly, ALTHOUGH, early on this journey, that thought to use it had crossed my mind. Any lubricant I can get here in Spain, where I live, that doesn't sell nor even heard of AZO, didn't get peanut butter on the market until 1984, does not sell, nor through Amazon, any anesthetic gel that is "medical-grade sterile."
I am grateful to be here, and receive the treatment I have access to. I managed to get OptiLube and EMLA cream, however the latter is not sterile.
I am on my fourth UTI in seven months, which ain't too bad with a prostate the size of Montana. In an effort to keep it clean and natural, I resist using artificial lubricants. I do however occasionally use pre-seminal fluid to lubricate AKA- "edging," but I still have to watch what I do. This include drying off with a bath towel which can cross contaminate the cath that's dangling. Rubbing alcohol after shower and towel dry without touching the cath, blow dry that area and get dressed. You can't keep it clean enough. But what I can do helps.
So, I'd rather not use any ointments, lubes, gels, etc, that will provide a sticky surface for outside bacteria to cling too. But, for some, it works! I thank you for the suggestion and for commenting. We're here for each other. Thanks, Leonard.