An Eye on CAUTI Prevention: Bridging the Gap in the Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections

ProblemThe United States Healthcare Systems is burdened heavily by healthcare-associated infections (HAI), as they pose significant risks for increased mortality and morbidity. The most common type of HAI is urinary tract infection (UTI), and these infections are preventable (Strassle et al., 2019). According to the CDC (2021), 12-16% of hospitalized adults will at some point require catheterization; and each day an indwelling catheter remains in place increases the patients risks of adverse outcomes by 3-7%. CAUTIs have been linked to increased mortality and morbidity rates across the world. The Centers for Disease Control report urinary tract infections (UTI) lead to more than 13,000 deaths each year (Centers for Disease Control [cdc], 2021). ObjectiveThis quality improvement (QI) project will focus on the prevention of hospital-acquired UTIs, specifically those infections related to indwelling devices such as foley catheters. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the current evidence-based literature related to CAUTI prevention, trial an intervention that parallels the literature in a local hospital and evaluate those results. DesignThe researcher focused on the problem of CAUTI, analyzed current evidence-based practices related to prevention, developed a plan to execute a high-value improvement tool, and evaluated its effectiveness. SettingQI project took place in a local community hospital. The focus area was the medical-surgical ICU. ParticipantsThe participants were nursing staff and nursing managers on the medical surgical units, specifically those in positions with unique or direct involvement with insertion, removal, or monitoring of foley catheters. The subjects in this quality improvement project included adult patients hospitalized in the medical surgical intensive care unit (ICU). InterventionsA CAUTI GPS screening tool was used to identify current prevention practices and/or any roadblocks to the prevention of CAUTI within the facility. Then, TAP (targeted assessment for prevention) strategy was implemented, which prompted expedited removal of indwelling catheters and/or the use of external drainage devices where indicated. ResultsThere was a marked increase in attention to and prompt removal of indwelling foleys throughout the critical care unit. The facility had no hospital-acquired CAUTI during the project period. ConclusionsThere must be an impetus to inspire compliance. If healthcare workers adhere to prevention guidelines, CAUTIs are preventable. When leadership team members within hospital systems are enthusiastic about CAUTI prevention, the organization as a whole has increased motivation (Chenoweth et al., 2014).