title: Engaging health care workers to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection and avert patient harm.
abstract: Preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains a significant challenge for US hospitals. The "On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI" initiative represents the single largest national effort (involving >950 hospitals) to mitigate urinary catheter risk. The program brings together key organizations to assist state hospital associations and hospitals by providing education and coaching support, addressing both the technical aspects of preventing CAUTI and CAUTI-specific socio-adaptive challenges. At the local level, engaging health care workers, from physicians and nurses to other ancillary services, is critical. This includes (1) making the importance of addressing CAUTI stakeholder specific, (2) ensuring support from leaders of essential disciplines, (3) underscoring the importance of the collaborative nature of CAUTI prevention, and (4) identifying champions within the organization to lead and be accountable for the work. Sustainability is ensured by integrating the process into the health care worker's daily routine activities.
authors.affiliation: St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI; Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI. Electronic address: Mohamad.Fakih@stjohn.org.
authors.forename: Mohamad G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Fakih
authors.affiliation: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI; University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Krein
authors.affiliation: Health Research & Educational Trust, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Edson
authors.affiliation: Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Lansing, MI.
authors.forename: Sam R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Battles
authors.affiliation: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saint
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000517:prevention & control; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003625:Data Collection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D058996:Quality Improvement; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D062885:Urinary Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Collaboration; Infection; Quality improvement; Safety; Urinary catheter