CATHETER-ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION (CAUTI) in ICU PATIENTS

Mohammed Saber Alqarni

University of Melbourne, Sabt alalya hospital, Registered Nurse-Emergency Department and ICU, Bisha region, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

Correspondence:
Mohammed Saber Alqarni, RN, MSN.
Email: meydo.s@hotmail.com

Received: December 2020; Accepted: January 2021; Published: February 1, 2021
Citation: Mohammed Saber Alqarni. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) in ICU patients . Middle East Journal of Nursing 2021; 15(1): 25-33.DOI: 10.5742/MEJN2021.93799

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ABSTRACT

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a significant problem in hospitals despite considerable spending on education and prevention. A catheter-associated urinary tract infection emerges when germs enter the urinary tract via a urinary catheter, leading to infection. CAUTIs have been linked with increased mortality, morbidity, healthcare costs in intensive care units. This paper reviews and discusses the most common factors contributing to CAUTI in patients in ICUs and presents the methods and strategies used to reduce ICU-acquired UTIs.

Aim: To determine how the intensive care unit (ICU) nurses implement infection control to reduce the cases of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and to find the gaps in the implementation process.

Methods: Using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement methodology, a multidisciplinary team was created to identify ways to reduce Catheter-associated urinary tract infections in ICU. The team reviewed current procedures, protocols, and indications related to catheter insertion. There was a comparison between pre-intervention and after-intervention adherence to catheter bundles for Foley insertion best practice competency and urinary catheter best practice algorithm.

Conclusion: UTI’s prevalence within the healthcare settings requires sustained and quality interventions that can be achieved through a quality improvement project. Quality improvement is a structured framework regarding the consistent evaluation of effective health care efforts and practices. It also employs the latest evidence-based practices and requires the collaborative effort and involvement of an entire health care organization. A quality improvement project can help the overall health of the population, reduce UTI associated medical expenditures and in turn diminish the UTI prevalence by utilizing the latest successful practices and methods in scientific literature reviewed in this project. However, to see significant changes, it will take time, continuous education and effort amongst healthcare organizations.

Key words: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) ; ICU patients