• TS: – Implementing Nurse-Driven Protocols to Reduce CAUTI[®] [REF: IC, RNx] The Source, April 2013, Vol 11, #4, Pg 1

There are still a few State Psychiatric hospitals that must comply with NPSG.07.06.01 because they serve patients who require management of urinary catheters.  According to this article, CAUTI “is the most frequently occurring type of health care–associated infection (HAI) in US hospitals” and most of that is the result of indwelling urinary catheters. The longer such a catheter is in place, the more the risk of infection increases.  To help improve the timeliness of catheter removal, more consideration is being given to nurse-driven protocols for catheter removal. The bulk of this article shares the success of an Oklahoma hospital in reducing CAUTI largely through the use of nurse driven protocols.  However, it should be noted that their efforts first addressed the reduction of unnecessary Foley placements by developing a list of 10 criteria (page 5) for its appropriate use.   Evaluation of protocol success is emphasized as is staff training and competency (sample competency sheets on pages 7-8) is also emphasized.
Tip: If your patient population includes those who require indwelling catheter management, be sure to review The Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections 2009 by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)