Running Head: CAUTI Prevention 1

Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections

Abigail M. Soper

It has been found by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that more

than 30 million indwelling urinary catheters are used yearly in the United States. While a
Running Head: CAUTI Prevention 2

majority of these indwelling urinary catheters are found to be used for unnecessary reasons,

very few are being deemed clinically necessary. Along with the use of an indwelling urinary

catheter comes a huge risk for a catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Urinary

tract infection are the most common healthcare related infections and the CDC says

approximately 75% of these are caused by indwelling urinary catheters, and 70% of these are

preventable. In 2013, a Progressive Care Unit (PCU) a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida

implemented a few requirements and had a very good outcome.

A brand new 27 bed PCU that was separated from the intensive care unit was staffed

with 35 registered nurses and 15 patient care technicians. PCU admits adult patients with

anything from complications with diabetes mellitus, heart failure, chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease, and cancer. In the fourth quarter of 2013 three patients developed a CAUTI.

This was almost four times the national benchmark and was recognized as being a major

problem and needed immediate attention.

The program consisted of having four phases. Phase one was a group being formed

including a nurse manager, nurse educator, and two nurse champions. This group all had the

same goal in mind, to eliminate CAUTIs and be a resource to their co-employees. The second

phase included a lot of time dedicated to evidence based research and adopting the CDCs

guidelines to prevent CAUTIs. The third phase included making all staff aware of the problem

and different implementations that would be put in action. In-service education, indwelling

urinary catheter orders were being written within CDC guidelines, removing catheters as soon

as possible, providing catheter care every 8 hours, hand hygiene, and proper maintenance of
Running Head: CAUTI Prevention 3

the tubing, bag, and positioning. Another very important part of this phase was documentation

in the electronic health records as well as using a CAUTI Prevention Form (CPF). Phase 4

included a CAUTI Bundle Audit Tool (CBAT) which aided in reviewing of staff documentation and

also aided in the reevaluation of the different programs and the staff to see if things were

working.

The PCU reported that after putting everything into effect they were free of any CAUTIs

for 22 months. This was a tremendous step in the right direction. There was also a 38% drop in

the number of days a catheter was used. Being this study was only used in the PCU other areas

of the hospital could go through the same implementations and could have just as much

success or even more. I personally look forward to see if any units I may work on take this sort

of initiative in getting the catheters out!

CAUTI Prevention: Streaming Quality Care in a Progressive Care Unit, Alexandra N. Carr,

Veronica W. Lacambra, James M. Naessens, Rebecca E. Monteau, Shin H. Park, MedSurg

Nursing, September- October 2017, Volume 26/ Number 5.

Running Head: CAUTI Prevention 4