Applying preventive measures leading to significant reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in adult intensive care unit

The prolonged use of indwelling urinary catheters can lead to many complications, the most prevalent being urinary tract infections. These hospital-acquired infections can increase hospital costs, length of stay, and mortality rates. Evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of urinary tract infections are compared and discussed. Minimizing indwelling urinary catheter use is well-recognized in the literature to reduce the risk of these infections. To decrease the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, the staff of a 22-bed, mixed medical, surgical, and trauma intensive care unit focused on reducing the number of foley catheter device days. A multidisciplinary team was convened to create an evidence-based plan. Staff nurses were engaged in the development and implementation of the plan. Criteria-based foley catheter guidelines, a decision-making algorithm, and a daily checklist were implemented that led to a significant reduction in foley catheter device days and a decrease in catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

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Chasing Zero Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) through Implementing a Novel Female External Urine Collection Device in a Tertiary Academic Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

American Journal of Infection Control ◽

10.1016/j.ajic.2018.04.027 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. S14 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Terrie Beeson ◽

Carmen Davis ◽

Kathleen M. Vollman

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Urinary Tract ◽

Urinary Tract Infections ◽

Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽

Urine Collection ◽

Surgical Intensive Care ◽

Collection Device ◽

Tract Infections

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Reducing Use of Indwelling Urinary Catheters and Associated Urinary Tract Infections

American Journal of Critical Care ◽

10.4037/ajcc2009938 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 535-541 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Ellen H. Elpern ◽

Kathryn Killeen ◽

Alice Ketchem ◽

Amanda Wiley ◽

Gourang Patel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Urinary Tract ◽

Urinary Tract Infections ◽

Medical Intensive Care Unit ◽

Urinary Catheterization ◽

Intervention Period ◽

Urinary Catheters ◽

Medical Intensive Care ◽

Tract Infections

Background Use of indwelling urinary catheters can lead to complications, most commonly catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Duration of catheterization is the major risk factor. These infections can result in sepsis, prolonged hospitalization, additional hospital costs, and mortality. Objectives To implement and evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections in a medical intensive care unit by decreasing use of urinary catheters. Methods Indications for continuing urinary catheterization with indwelling devices were developed by unit clinicians. For a 6-month intervention period, patients in a medical intensive care unit who had indwelling urinary catheters were evaluated daily by using criteria for appropriate catheter continuance. Recommendations were made to discontinue indwelling urinary catheters in patients who did not meet the criteria. Days of use of a urinary catheter and rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections during the intervention were compared with those of the preceding 11 months. Results During the study period, 337 patients had a total of 1432 days of urinary catheterization. With use of guidelines, duration of use was significantly reduced to a mean of 238.6 d/mo from the previous rate of 311.7 d/mo. The number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections per 1000 days of use was a mean of 4.7/mo before the intervention and zero during the 6-month intervention period. Conclusions Implementation of an intervention to judge appropriateness of indwelling urinary catheters may result in significant reductions in duration of catheterization and occurrences of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

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