Urinary Catheter Usage and Care A Gap Analysis

Abstract

CAUTIs are one of the most common preventable causes of mortality in the United States. Urinary catheter-related infections increase the length of stay, antibiotic use, and healthcare cost. The daily risk of acquiring bacteriuria when an indwelling catheter in situ is 3-7%. This project aims to reduce CAUTI rates by reducing inappropriate urinary catheterization and duration of catheterization by 10 %. A gap analysis was performed to assess the system's current state of compliance with Catheter Usage and Care policy. Twenty-five charts total reviewed from October 2017 thru March 2018. The indications catheterization included: ten for neurogenic bladder, eleven for urinary retention, two post-operative surgical procedure, one for urinary obstruction and one for pelvic fracture. The ten for neurogenic bladder, one for urinary obstruction and one urology patient, did not meet the criteria of inclusion. A patient associated with a pelvic fracture had three days of unnecessary catheter days. Findings included the Catheter Usage and Care policy compliance rate of 86%. The cause of untimely removal is the failure to remove the urinary catheter when the indication is no longer valid, and no daily assessment of the urinary catheter indication. To improve patient outcomes, hospitals can use strategies to reduce CAUTI through the application of accepted evidence-based prevention practices. Documentation of the indication for the urinary catheter daily will assist in decreasing urinary catheter-related infections.M.S.N., Clinical Nurse Leader -- Drexel University, 201