Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary
Tract Infections
Unfortunately, no single CAUTI prevention strategy is
widely used. Saint and colleagues found that only 30% of
hospitals reported regularly using portable bladder ultrasound,
14% reported using condom catheters in men, and
9% reported using catheter reminders or stop orders.205
Processes that have been introduced include a checklist
of acceptable rationale for placement and a checklist to
guide the orders for removal and management.206 The
elements of performance listed by the Joint Commission
include the following:
1. Inserting indwelling urinary catheters according to
established evidence-based guidelines that address limiting
use and duration to appropriate situations and
using aseptic techniques for placement
2. Managing catheters so that urine flow is unobstructed
and the collection system remains sterile, and replacing
the system when required
3. Measuring CAUTI prevention processes by monitoring
compliance with guidelines or best practices, and
evaluating the effectiveness of prevention efforts.
Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship
between adherence to CAUTI prevention recommendations
and CAUTI incidence rates.