Do System-Based Interventions Affect Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection?

Introduced in the 1930s by American urologist Dr Fredrick Foley, urinary catheters have become a mainstay in clinical care.¹  An estimated 30 million urinary catheters are used annually in the United States. Prevalence of catheter use among hospitalized patients ranges from 16% to 33%^2,3  and is even higher (67%–76%) in critically ill patients.^4,5  But up to one-third of patients may not have an appropriate indication for a catheter to be used.^3,6–8  Inappropriate catheter use occurs because of convenience, misunderstanding of necessity, and lack of clear orders for catheter removal⁹  or the physician’s lack of awareness of the catheter’s presence.⁸ 

More than 500000 catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) occur each year in the United States alone. As the single largest source of bacteremia in hospitalized patients, CAUTIs account for 30% to 40% of all hospital-acquired infections.^10...