Reducing Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)

The CAUTI rate on the wards and ICUs for FY18 YTD was 25 infections with a goal of ZERO (FY17, there were 25 infections).

Please only place indwelling urinary catheters for:

  • Hourly urine output monitoring (only in the ICUs)
  • Management of urinary retention, and
  • Assistance in healing a stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcer

If a patient has a fever with a Foley catheter in place, DO NO SEND BOTH A URINALYSIS AND A URINE CULTURE TOGETHER!  First send a urinalysis (UA).  If the UA is positive (greater than 10 WBC, presence of bacteria as shown by bacteria on microscope slide, positive leukocyte esterase, or positive nitrates), have the nurse change the Foley catheter and then send a urine culture.  This helps greatly reduce false positive urine cultures which are then labeled as CAUTIs.  There is now a BPA which fires as a reminder to adhere to this process.

Always remove Foley catheters as soon as they are no longer needed; review need for placement as DAILY rounds and Multidisciplinary Rounds.