Nurse-directed interventions to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2011.07.018
• Publication Date: 2011-11-03T01:13:20Z
• Authors: Kathleen S. Oman; Mary Beth Flynn M...; Regina Fink; Nicolle Schraeder; Teresa Hulett; Tarah Keech; Heidi Wald
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Infection Control; Incidence; Nurses; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Catheter-Related Infections; Urinary Tract Infections; Humans; Female; Aged

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common, morbid, and costly. Nearly 25% of hospitalized patients are catheterized yearly, and 10% develop urinary tract infections. Evidence-based guidelines exist for indwelling urinary catheter management but are not consistently followed.A pre/post intervention design was used in this quality improvement project to test the impact of nurse-driven interventions based on current evidence to reduce CAUTIs in hospitalized patients on 2 medical/surgical units. Interventions consisted of hospital-wide strategies including policy and product improvements and unit-specific strategies that focused on a review of current evidence to guide practice.The number of catheter days decreased from 3.01 to 2.2 (P = .018) on the surgery unit and from 3.53 to 2.7 (P = .076) on the medical unit. CAUTI rates were too low to achieve significant reduction. Product cost savings were estimated at $52,000/year.Guidelines derived from research and other sources of evidence can successfully improve patient outcomes. Nurse-driven interventions, combined with system-wide product changes, and patient and family involvement may be effective strategies that reduce CAUTI.