Appropriate Use of Indwelling Urinary Catheters Reduces Risk of CAUTI

The best way to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) is to limit the use of indwelling urinary catheters. While many programs to reduce CAUTI focus on the timely removal of a catheter, this initiative focused on considering appropriate indications before using a catheter for patients throughout the hospital.

The basis for this initiative was a study published in JAMA in 2014, which focused on following specific Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and educating staff through an intervention about deciding whether to insert an indwelling catheter. As a result, the appropriate use of catheters increased from 47 percent to 100 percent throughout the system's emergency departments.

This case study is part of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association's annual Quality Excellence Achievement Awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals and health systems in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These organizations are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim—improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction), improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of health care—and the Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement—safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. To learn more, visit https://www.ihaqualityawards.org/javascript-ui/IHAQualityAward/