Can other people who are around this bacteria catch this infection? Using same bathroom, etc as the elderly person who empties his bag there, etc? Dr said he will always have infection in bladder and will never clear at this point. What happens to caregivers who use same toilet, etc. Can we get this? How can we protect ourselves?
Now if he gets an infection that is C. Diff (Clostridium difficile), that is going to be quite the challenge. You might want to Google articles on C. Diff.
However, my initial reaction to your question is to challenge what the doctor said about your father's condition NEVER clearing. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) website recommends antimicrobial-impregnated intravascular catheters as "a useful adjunction to infection control measures."
Please don't give up on this. Good luck and God bless.
The doctors may not treat with an antibiotic if there are no symptoms....like, no fever, no mental status changes, no burning sensation, etc.
The docs may treat if the urine culture shows a new bacterial infection besides the colonization, and if there are symptoms.
I do not believe there is much if any chance of others getting the bladder infection, since the bacteria involved are usually those that everyone has somewhere in their body. Good hygiene (wipe front to back only, for example) plus drinking enough fluids is probably best way to prevent infection of bladder.
Some people who can't empty their bladders end up doing "intermittent catherization" three times daily. This is common in people with spinal cord injuries, but can also be a good option for older men as it allows them to live without having a bag attached to the leg all the time, and it's thought that there's less risk of bladder colonization.
I've had several older patients self-catherize their bladders, often for years. However, at some point older men often need help with this task, and it can be hard for caregivers to take it on.
Good luck!