Purple Pee, Should We Worry
May 1, 2023
JAMDA
The striking purple urine in the urine bag and tubing also known as “purple urine bag syndrome” (PUBS) is a rare disorder seen in older patients with chronic urinary catheters in place. The purple color is due to the buildup of indigo and indirubin in the urine, the end products of tryptophan metabolism by sulfatase and phosphatase produced by certain bacteria. PUBS is a usually a benign entity which may imply the possibility of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or suggest colonization of the urinary tract.