Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common type of health care-associated infection in U.S. hospitals and account for 35 percent of all such infections. The estimated cost per year for CAUTIs is $565 million, and the estimated number of deaths per year is 8,205. Yet, the vast majority of CAUTIs are preventable.

The goals of the national On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI project are to:

  • Reduce mean CAUTI rates in participating clinical units by 25 percent over eighteen months.
  • Improve patient safety by disseminating the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) model and tools as evidenced by improved teamwork and communication.
  • Promote the coordination of state-based efforts to eliminate HAIs.
The purpose of this tool is to support sustainability efforts for your On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI project team. This worksheet will help your team identify their current state, including what's working and what's not working, outline future goals for CAUTI prevention and develop clear next steps and an action plan to reach those CAUTI prevention goals.

CAUTI ED Rounding Tool

ED Charge nurse, CAUTI team lead, Infection Preventionist or Unit Manager might use this tool to facilitate a conversation around catheters with ED staff at a designated time each day or week, such as a shift change or daily safety huddle.
The ED Hospital Observation Report will be an optional tool that state leads can use when they visit EDs and/or their ED-inpatient pairs. State Leads can share a copy with the National Project Team if they wish. This tool may assist State Leads to understand the culture and processes specific to the ED participating in the CAUTI ED intervention project.
July 2013 - HRET published a guide that describes a three-step action plan that helps hospitals and care systems achieve and sustain reduction in CAUTI infection rates.  This guide describes a three-step action plan from the On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI project that helps hospitals and care systems achieve and sustain reductions in CAUTI infection rates.
  1. Communicate infection reduction as an organizational priority
  2. Provide implementation support
  3. Celebrate success, and support sustainability and spread
The CDC Healthcare-Associated Infections: Recovery Act site  is assisting states in this process with implementation tool kits.

APIC Implementation Guide to Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)

CAUTIs have been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, hospital cost, and length of stay.  This vital guide provides new and expanded content on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of CAUTI; surveillance and reporting; patient safety; and CAUTI prevention in special populations (pediatrics, spinal cord injury, long-term care, and ICU). This information is presented in an easy-to understand and-use format that includes numerous examples and tools. Distribution as a full access online resource from the APIC website is made possible by the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ).

CAUTI 2017 Top Ten, Evidence Based Interventions 

 

HRET's  2017 CAUTI  Change Package

 

Eliminate Harm Across the Board - HRET's CAUTI Poster

National Healthcare Safety Network Launches Hospital TAP Reports

The National Healthcare Safety Network now offers reports that can help hospitals target their infection prevention efforts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today. The Targeted Assessment for Prevention reports allow authorized users to identify facilities within a group or units within a facility with more infections than predicted based on Standardized Infection Ratio targets for catheter-associated urinary tract infection, central line-associated bloodstream infection and Clostridium difficile. "AHA is pleased that CDC is making this tool available to hospitals that are looking to make further strides in reducing infections by being able to target areas that may provide the greatest opportunity for improvement," said John Combes, M.D., AHA senior vice president and chief medical officer.

Click here for more on the reports»