Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most common hospital-acquired infection, the results of a national survey reflect that the commonly-used Foley catheter may be to blame.
More than three-quarters of survey respondents were infection preventionists working in acute-care hospitals where Foley catheters are widely used.
• CAUTIs cost U.S. hospitals between $400 million and $500 million annually.
• Under the Affordable Care Act, some hospitals have already had Medicare reimbursements cut due to high CAUTI rates.
• Percentage of respondents who said Foley catheters can cause trauma to the wall or lining of the bladder — 79 percent.
• Percentage of respondents who said this trauma could in crease risk of CAUTIs — 83 percent.
• Percentage of respondents who reported their facilities were not adequately complying with recommended CAUTI reduction protocols — 54.6 percent.
• Percentage of respondents who report their administration puts a strong emphasis on CAUTI reduction — 66.7 percent.