Download or read book Prevention and Reduction of Catheter Acquired Urinary Tract Infections written by Caitlin King and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Patients with urinary catheters have a much higher chance of getting urinary tract infections (UTI) than those without catheters. Catheter acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most preventable type of heathcare-associated infection and account for more than 30% of nosocomial infections reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015). 80% are due to prolonged use of an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) (Yin-Yin and others, 2013). Reducing the number of CAUTIs is a valuable and cost effective goal for hospitals nationwide. Nurses are the frontline staff with the ability to demonstrate their critical role in reducing complications from IUCs (Bernard and others, 2012, pages 36). Studies have shown that early removal of a IUC can reduce the risk of a CAUTI by up to 40% (Newman and Strauss, 2013). With the use of a nurse-driven protocol that empowers nurses to remove catheters with no indication, CAUTIs have been shown to be reduced by almost 90% (Newman and Strauss, 2013). If nurses are educated on proper insertion techniques and to promptly remove the catheter when there is no longer an indication for its use, the number of CAUTIs can be decreased allowing for safer patient care and better patient outcomes. This re-education and testing program will be mandatory and will include all members of the health care team who insert catheters in the hospital setting. The number of CAUTIs will be evaluated before the plan is initiated, six months after it is initiated when all the staff has been educated and tested, and again a year after the initial implementation of the plan. Sharing information gained through these changes can make patients feel safer and more informed, be an eye-opener to many family members and other members of the health care community, and help guide other health care facilities in making similar changes that promote health and wellness in their patients.