Zeroing in on Safety: A Pediatric Approach to Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infection is the most common nosocomial infection reported by acute care hospitals.^1–4  The presence of an indwelling urinary catheter is a major risk factor for the development of a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). CAUTIs increase morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs.^5,6  CAUTIs are considered to be reasonably preventable in hospitalized adults if recommended infection prevention measures are put into place; therefore, no additional payment is provided to hospitals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for costs related to treatment of CAUTIs in adults.^7–9  Although payment changes have not affected pediatric hospitals yet, lessons can be learned from successful approaches in the adult population.¹⁰ 

Our academic medical center, the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, developed an interdisciplinary clinical improvement work group to reduce the incidence of CAUTIs. At the time, the CAUTI rate was 4.7 CAUTIs...