title: Nurse-directed interventions to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common, morbid, and costly. Nearly 25% of hospitalized patients are catheterized yearly, and 10% develop urinary tract infections. Evidence-based guidelines exist for indwelling urinary catheter management but are not consistently followed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre/post intervention design was used in this quality improvement project to test the impact of nurse-driven interventions based on current evidence to reduce CAUTIs in hospitalized patients on 2 medical/surgical units. Interventions consisted of hospital-wide strategies including policy and product improvements and unit-specific strategies that focused on a review of current evidence to guide practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of catheter days decreased from 3.01 to 2.2 (P = .018) on the surgery unit and from 3.53 to 2.7 (P = .076) on the medical unit. CAUTI rates were too low to achieve significant reduction. Product cost savings were estimated at $52,000/year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Guidelines derived from research and other sources of evidence can successfully improve patient outcomes. Nurse-driven interventions, combined with system-wide product changes, and patient and family involvement may be effective strategies that reduce CAUTI.
authors: University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. kathy.oman@uch.edu
authors: Kathleen S
authors: KS
authors: Oman
authors: Mary Beth Flynn
authors: MB
authors: Makic
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Fink
authors: Nicolle
authors: N
authors: Schraeder
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Hulett
authors: Tarah
authors: T
authors: Keech
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Wald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*