Effectively reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in intensive care units requires a multifaceted approach. Stewardship of culturing was shown to be a successful component of CAUTI reduction efforts, according to a study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
The study focused on a project team composed of all critical care disciplines addressing the goal of decreasing CAUTIs. They implemented a number of interventions, including CDC-recommended protocols for placement, maintenance and removal of catheters.
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Additionally, all critical care discipline leaders agreed to align culturing practices with guidelines from the American College of Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Disease Society of America for evaluating a fever in a critically ill patient.
The study shows the CAUTI rate decreased from 3 per 1,000 catheter days in 2013 to 1.9 in 2014. The device utilization ratio was 0.7 in 2013 and 0.68 in 2014. The hospital-acquired bloodstream infection rates per 1,000 patient days decreased from 2.8 in 2013 to 2.4 in 2014.