About the Toolkit Development
Toolkit for Reducing CAUTI in Hospitals
Background
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are a common type of health care-associated infection. Complications associated with CAUTI result in increased length of stay, patient discomfort, excess health care costs, and sometimes mortality. However, many cases of CAUTI are preventable. As many as one-fourth of all hospital inpatients may have a short-term, indwelling urinary catheter placed during their hospital stay; a significant portion of these catheters are placed without appropriate indications.
To address this problem, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) funded the On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI program, a 4-year initiative to reduce mean rates of CAUTI in U.S. hospitals. Led by the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) of the American Hospital Association, the collaborative worked with State organizations and hospitals across the country to implement the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) and CAUTI reduction practices in hospital units.
Project Partners
On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI was conducted through a national partnership that brought together subject matter experts, providers, and researchers in the field.
Partners included—
- Health Research & Educational Trust
- Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
- Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality
- St. John Hospital and Medical Center
- University of Michigan Health System
Faculty organizations—
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
- Emergency Nurses Association
- Society for Critical Care Medicine
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
- Society of Hospital Medicine
Agency partner—
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Reports
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