Many hospitals still don't do enough to prevent UTIs from catheters
No hospitalized patient loves getting a urinary catheter. But if they must have one, the last thing they want is a urinary tract infection caused by bacteria that seize their chance to grow on the catheter.
Many hospitals still fall short in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by catheters, despite years of efforts to improve patient safety. According to a new study published in JAMA Network Open, only 49% of general hospitals and 32% of hospitals run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have systems in place to remind doctors to reassess the need for catheters and to renew orders periodically.
Although the percentage of hospitals using these practices has increased over the past 20 years, it has now plateaued or even declined in recent years. The study, led by researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, highlights the need for hospitals to embed these effective strategies into everyday care.
Sanjay Saint, M.D., M.P.H., and Jennifer Meddings, M.D., M.Sc., the study's leaders, emphasize that reminders to reassess the necessity of catheters and empowering nurses to remove them when appropriate should be commonplace in hospitals. Saint and Meddings also note that electronic medical record systems can be used to restrict catheter placement to appropriate clinical reasons and to remind clinicians of alternatives, such as external catheters.
By implementing these strategies, hospitals can reduce the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections and ultimately save money by preventing costly infections.
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