Active training and surveillance: 2 good friends to reduce urinary catheterization rate

Because catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) represent the most frequent health care-associated infection (HAI), we implemented an educational intervention on urinary catheter use to reduce the CAUTI rate.

The intervention was focused on correct management of catheterized patients. To assess the participants' knowledge, pre- and post-tests were performed. An active CAUTI surveillance program took place in a 900-bed teaching hospital in central Italy before and after the educational intervention. CAUTI definition, catheterization rate, and CAUTI rate were expressed according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network definitions. The level of significance was set at P ≤ .05.

Two hundred ninety-six health care workers attended the educational intervention; the analysis of the pre- and post-tests highlighted a statistically significant improvement (P < .05). Before the intervention, mean catheterization rate was 18.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]:18.1-18.9); 46 cases of CAUTI were detected, with an incidence rate of 6.6/1,000 catheter-days (95% CI: 4.8-8.8). After the intervention, mean catheterization rate was 9.2% (95% CI: 8.9-9.5); 19 cases of CAUTI were detected, with an incidence rate of 5.8/1,000 catheter-days (95% CI: 3.5-9.0).

Through an active educational update and thanks to the implementation of a surveillance system, a successful reduction of catheterization rate was achieved. More efforts are needed to preserve this goal and to improve the CAUTI rate also.