Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Adults

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common hospital-acquired infection, accounting for up to 40% of infections reported by acute care hospitals.¹  The major risk factor associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the presence of an indwelling urinary catheter. Despite efforts to reduce the occurrence of CAUTIs, their frequency increased 6% between 2009 and 2013.¹  CAUTIs increase hospital cost and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.^2,3  CAUTIs are considered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to represent a reasonably preventable complication of hospitalization. As such, no additional payment is provided to hospitals for costs related to CAUTI treatment.⁴ 

1. Assess patient for accepted indications and alternatives before placement of any indwelling urinary catheter. [level A]

2. Adhere to aseptic technique for placement, manipulation, and maintenance of indwelling urinary catheters. [level C]

3. Document all instances of indwelling urinary catheters including insertion date, indication, and removal date. [level C]

4. Discontinue indwelling urinary catheters promptly as soon as indications expire. [level A]

1. Prolonged catheterization is the major risk factor for CAUTIs.⁵  Develop written guidelines for urinary catheterization, and include indications for indwelling urinary catheterization and ensuring that catheter placement is limited to patients who meet indications.^5,6  Bladder scanning can be used to assess need for catheterization.

1. Recommended infection control measures can prevent 17% to 69% of CAUTIs.⁵  Maintenance of the catheter should include use of a securement device, unobstructed flow by keeping tubing free of kinks and below the level of the bladder, maintenance of a closed system, and regular emptying of the collection bag.⁷  Avoid use of antibiotic-coated or silver-coated urinary catheters.⁸  Replacing basin bathing with plain wipe bathing has been recommended.⁹  Cleaning the catheter regularly with wipes impregnated with chlorhexidine gluconate has been suggested as an intervention to decrease CAUTIs.¹⁰  Implementing standards and monitoring for catheter insertion and management technique are also recommended.^11,12  Having devices and supplies (eg, condom catheters, penis pouches, incontinence products) available as an alternative to indwelling catheters can help decrease use.^9,13  If inserting an indwelling catheter, use the smallest catheter possible.¹⁴ 

1. Daily, review the necessity for catheter continuation for all patients with urinary catheters.¹¹  Develop systems to ensure prompt removal of catheters when no longer indicated¹² ; consider nurse-driven removal protocols.^15–20 

1. It has been noted that indwelling urinary catheters are often placed without sufficient rationale and/or remain in place after indications expire.²¹  Use of an intervention reminder that a catheter was in place and/or a stop order to prompt removal of unnecessary catheters reduced the CAUTI rate by 53%.¹⁵  Implementing infection surveillance programs that include unit-based urinary catheter days and rates of CAUTIs have been helpful.⁷  The ability to do surveillance and give performance feedback is key to long-term success.^11,12,22 

Consider use of a previously developed set of criteria or tool, such as the HOUDINI Protocol, to standardize assessment and a nurse-driven protocol for assessing the initial and ongoing need for indwelling catheters (https://www.advisory.com/research/nursing-executive-center/expert-insights/2013/faqs-houdini-protocol).

Make insertion of an indwelling catheter a 2-person activity to ensure maintenance of aseptic technique.

Include information about catheter days and continued assessment during nurse-to-nurse handoff.

Participate in daily rounds as part of the discussion of the ongoing need for each catheter.

Identify a unit champion to continue the focus on use of indwelling catheters, maintenance, alternatives, and urinary tract infection rates for the unit.

Identify the particular guidelines, criteria, and surveillance mechanism that is being used in your facility to measure catheter days and urinary tract infections.

1. Contact a clinical practice specialist for additional information: go to www.aacn.org then select Practice Resource Network.

2. Lo E, Nicolle N, Coffin SE, et al. Strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2014;35:464–479.

3. HICPAC/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/cauti/001_cauti.html. Accessed May 20, 2016.

4. American Nurses Association CAUTI Prevention Tool. 2015. http://nursingworld.org/ANA-CAUTI-Prevention-Tool. Accessed May 20, 2016.

5. The Joint Commission. 2016 National Patient Safety Goals. http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/npsgs.aspx. Accessed May 20, 2016.

6. AACN Innovation Database. Search for projects focused on CAUTI prevention or reduction. http://www.aacn.org/wd/csi/content/csi-landing.pcms?sidebar=none&menu=csi. Accessed May 20, 2016.