Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common hospital-acquired infections and can result in sepsis, prolonged hospitalization, additional hospital costs, and mortality. Increased duration of indwelling catheters is the greatest risk factor for the development of CAUTIs, and indwelling urinary catheters tend to be inserted and maintained when they are not actually indicated. This paper researches the possibility of implementing a criteria-based reminder system which is a daily check list that either the nurse or physician completes, and based of its outcomes, the nurse or physician will know if keeping the catheter in place is appropriate or not. Different research articles consisting of randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized controlled trials were analyzed and the findings were consistent in that implementing a criteria-based reminder system not only reduces the number of inappropriate catheter days, but also decreased the risk of developing a CAUTI which in the end increases patient safety.