Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)

CAUTIs are the most common healthcare-associated infection (HAI) reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).¹ Many of these infections are preventable when clinicians adhere to fundamental infection control principles, such as inserting catheters only when appropriate indications are present, using proper techniques for insertion, limiting the duration of the catheter, and removing catheters as soon as possible postoperatively—if a catheter is used at all.²

The guidance in The Flash section below explores device utilization at the facility and unit levels, explains how NHSN data can be used to target units with higher incidence of infection, and shares tools that assess the factors that contribute to increases in CAUTI events.



HSAG HQIC has certified infection preventionists available to assist if you have any questions or need additional support. You can contact them through your Quality Advisor or email HospitalQuality@hsag.com. 

Data show that CAUTI rates—Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) and Standardized Utilization Ratio (SUR)—have improved since the baseline period of 2019 (lower rates are better).

Visit the HSAG HQIC Quality Improvement Innovation Portal (QIIP) to view your CAUTI data by selecting the “Measure Category” of HAI—Device Associated and “Measure” of CAUTI Rate, CAUTI SIR, and CAUTI SUR. 

*Rates are per 1,000 urinary catheter days.

Source: NHSN. Valid as of 4/13/2023. For additional details on measure specifications, please reference the HSAG HQIC Compendium of Measures.

AHRQ* Toolkit for Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) and CAUTI in ICUs

This webpage includes resources to assess, prevent, and overcome challenges of CLABSI and CAUTI.

*Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Mandatory Reporting Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (AUR) NHSN Requirement for Acute Care and Critical Access Hospitals

Beginning Calendar Year (CY) 2024

AUR reporting has been optional since the Meaningful Use Program in 2017. During CY 2023, facilities can earn five bonus points for active engagement by submitting AUR data within the Public Health Registry Reporting in NHSN. In CY 2024, AUR will become a required measure. So, begin now!

The AU numerator is the number of antimicrobial days and the denominator is days present and admissions. The AR numerator is isolate-level susceptibility results; and the denominator is patient days, admissions, and encounters. Manual data entry is not available for the NHSN AU option—and data must be entered via a clinical document architecture (CDA) file.

There is an IT component to this measure and using an electronic health record or surveillance software vendor is recommended.

Find vendors that meet NHSN validation standards:

Vendors that have Passed the AU Synthetic Data Set (SDS) Validation

Vendors that have Passed the AR SDS Validation

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)—Improving Opioid Stewardship Across the Surgical Continuum

Tuesday, May 23, 2023 | 2–3 p.m. ET

Multimodal anesthesia and analgesia based on opioid-free or opioid-sparing regimens have demonstrated the ability to limit perioperative opioid consumption across several surgical specialties with diminished opioid exposure, availability of opioids, and the risk of prolonged use or misuse. In this webinar, a team of ERAS experts from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) will share their journey to successfully implement ERAS protocols and how hospitals can work together to improve their ERAS programs through collaboration.

*One continuing education unit available. Details pending.

Patient and Family Engagement Quickinar Series

Establishing a partnership with patients and families improves patient quality and safety—from admission to discharge. Discover how to keep patients and families at the center of care and engage staff to form an alliance with patients and families. 

1st & 3rd Thursdays. Next: May 4, 2023  | 1–1:30 p.m. ET

Health Equity

Quickinar Series

Achieving equitable care for all patients is a key priority for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which is reflected in the new Hospital Commitment to Health Equity Structural Measure and Social Drivers Screening Measures in the Final Rule. These short, 30-minute presentations address the many facets and criteria hospitals will need to meet for these measures and assist your hospital in advancing health equity initiatives in alignment with CMS priorities.

2nd & 4th Thursdays. Next: May 11, 2023  | 1–1:30 p.m. ET

Care Coordination

Quickinar Series

Continue your care coordination journey for managing avoidable hospital readmissions by registering for these short, 30-minute webinars—offered monthly, with new dates coming through May 2024. Find details and recordings for past presentations on the webpage.

1st Tuesdays. Next: June 6, 2023 | 2–2:30 p.m. ET

References

1. CDC Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/ca_uti/uti.html

2. CDC Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections. https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/cauti/index.html

This material was prepared by Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), a Hospital Quality Improvement Contractor (HQIC) under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication No XS-HQIC-XT-05022023-01