Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common and preventable hospital-acquired infections, yet their rate continues to rise nationwide. We describe the implementation of a multifaceted program to reduce catheter use and CAUTI rates while simultaneously addressing barriers to long-term success.
Pre-post study of medical inpatient veterans between December 2012 and February 2015.
Five component intervention: (i) a bedside catheter reminder; (ii) multidisciplinary educational campaign; (iii) structured catheter order set with clinical decision support; (iv) automated catheter discontinuation orders; and (v) protocol for post-catheter removal care.
Catheter utilization rates and CAUTI rates on the study ward were followed during the 14-week baseline period, the 27-week transition/intervention period and the 70-week period of full implementation/sustainability. Rates of patient falls per bed days and catheter reinsertions were collected during the same time periods as balancing measures.
Catheter use declined by 35% from the baseline period to the full implementation/sustainability period. This improvement was not realized until deployment of the structured electronic orders with automated catheter discontinuation and protocolized post-catheter care. The average number of days between CAUTIs on the study ward increased from 101 days in the baseline period to over 400 days in the full implementation/sustainability period. There was no significant change in the rates of falls or catheter reinsertions during the study period.
A multicomponent intervention aimed specifically at targeting local barriers was successful in reducing catheter utilization as well as CAUTIs in a veteran population without compensatory increase in patient falls or catheter replacement.
International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care. 2017 Jun 17 [Epub ahead of print]
Cecelia N Theobald, Matthew J Resnick, Thomas Spain, Robert S Dittus, Christianne L Roumie
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA., VA National Quality Scholars Program, Department of Veteran Affairs, Tennessee Valley Health Care System, 1310 24th Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.