LAUSR

BACKGROUND Despite multiple efforts to decrease catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI's), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 90,000 healthcare-associated infections (HAI's) occur each year. According to the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG's), CAUTI reduction remains a top priority. The leading risk factor for CAUTI development is prolonged use of an indwelling Foley catheter. Female external catheters present providers with a non-invasive method of managing incontinent patients effectively. The ability to offer alternatives can reduce Foley catheter utilization and decrease CAUTI events. METHODS This initiative concentrated on reducing CAUTI's through the reinforcement of the CAUTI bundle, developed from the 2009 Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) guidelines, with the addition of a new external female catheter option. This one-year project, at a 300-bed community hospital in the northeast, began in October, 2017. Baseline data for all in-patient CAUTI's, Foley utilization rate and standardized infection ratio (SIR), was analyzed and compared pre and post implementation from the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). RESULTS Utilizing NHSN data to compare baseline versus post intervention from (10/1/2017- 9/30/2018) revealed a drastic improvement of 51.7% in CAUTI reduction. The Foley utilization rate was reduced from 15.7 to 10.7. SIR decreased from 1.319 to 0.965, which is significant, because it is below the NHSN SIR goal of less than 1. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that using female indwelling catheter alternatives as a bundle element is a potential factor in decreasing CAUTI. These results offer providers a foundation for managing future patients safer. Continued support and education is essential in combating CAUTI.