CAUTIs Continue To Be A Challenge!

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections continue to be an issue for clinicians and institutions, particularly hospitals.  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released many documents that clinicians and infectious disease experts will find useful in fighting this problem.  One is a Toolkit for Preventing CLABSI and CAUTI in ICUs that offers customizable tools and training resources to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in intensive care units (ICUs).

The toolkit is designed to help facilities assess current clinical and safety practices, implement a reduction plan, and overcome challenges in infection reduction efforts. The toolkit also includes a Playbook on how to apply AHRQ’s Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to prevent CAUTI by adjusting ICU policies and procedures.

This playbook will help your ICU understand how to integrate the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) and the tiered interventions introduced in the catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention modules.


Written by: Diane K. Newman, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN is an Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Former Co-Director of the Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health.

Source:  Playbook for preventing CLABSI and CAUTI in the ICU setting. AHRQ. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/tools/clabsi-cauti-icu/implement/playbook.html