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Monday, 18 November 2013
Learning Objective 1: Analyze the essential steps necessary to achieve and maintain an annual inpatient catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) rate of 0%.
Learning Objective 2: Identify at least two evidence-based references to assist with achieving the goal of 0% CAUTI rate.
A comparison between two separate cardiovascular thoracic units within Intermountain Healthcare revealed the smaller of the two units had a higher catheter associated urinary tract infection rate. The manager of that unit, Norma Geer, organized a multidisciplinary task force within her unit to identify specific problems creating this higher rate then putting measures in place to eliminate each problem. All nurses and nursing assistants on that unit, attending physicians, and hospital transporters were re-educated and requested to pay specific attention to all patients with foley catheters. As a result of the studying Joint Commission and CDDC Guidelines, evidence-based interventions were given intense emphasis and utilization. For over two years, the unit succeeded in maintaining a CAUTI rate of 0%.