Urinary Catheter Project
Background
- 600,000 patients develop hospital-acquired urinary tract infections per year.
- 80% of these are urinary catheter associated.
- Approximately half of the patients with a urinary catheter do not have a valid indication for placement.
- Each day a urinary catheter remains, the risk of a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) increases 5%.
Goals
- To decrease CAUTI.
- To improve patient safety.
- To teach nurses the indications for urinary catheter use.
- To reduce the unnecessary use of urinary catheters in the inpatient setting.
Prevention of CAUTI
Follow criteria indicated for a urinary catheter:
- Acute urinary retention or obstruction.
- Perioperative use in selected surgeries.
- Assistance in healing of severe perineal and sacral wounds in incontinent patients.
- Hospice/comfort care/palliative care.
- Required immobilization for trauma or surgery.
- Accurate measurement of urinary output in critically ill patients (intensive care).
Remember: promptly remove unnecessary urinary catheters!
