Reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections through best practice: Sherwood Forest Hospitals' experience

A programme to standardise catheterisation practice was introduced in Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust in 2016, with the aim of reducing the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The initiative involved the use of a catheterisation pack (Bard®Tray). Within the first year following its introduction, the CAUTI rate had been reduced from 13.3% to 2.1% (between July 2016 and June 2017), which is a reduction of more than 80%. Standardisation has also brought cost savings for the Trust of about £33 000 a year. The Trust has maintained its standardisation approach and CAUTI rates remain at around 2%.