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Reducing urinary tract infections in care homes by improving hydration
Katie Lean1, Rasanat Fatima Nawaz1,2, Sundus Jawad3
1Patient Safety, Oxford Patient Safety Collaborative, Oxford, UK.
BMJ Open Quality
|August 1, 2019
Summary
Implementing structured daily drink rounds significantly reduced hospital-admitted urinary tract infections (UTIs) in care homes. This low-cost hydration intervention improved resident health and decreased infection rates.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Dehydration is a risk factor for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in care home residents.
- UTIs can lead to serious complications such as confusion, falls, acute kidney injury, and hospitalization.
- Preventing UTIs is crucial for maintaining the health and well-being of elderly individuals in care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reduce the incidence of UTIs requiring hospital admission among care home residents.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured hydration intervention program.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of seven structured drink rounds daily for residents.
- Comprehensive staff training and awareness programs on hydration and UTI prevention.
- Data collection on UTI incidence and hospital admissions across four care homes.
Main Results:
- A 58% reduction in UTIs requiring antibiotics was observed.
- A 36% reduction in UTIs necessitating hospital admission was achieved.
- Residents experienced increased fluid intake, potentially lowering infection rates.
Conclusions:
- Structured drink rounds are a feasible, low-cost intervention for preventing UTIs in care homes.
- Enhanced hydration can decrease the incidence of UTIs and related hospitalizations in this population.
- Care staff can easily implement this strategy to improve resident health outcomes.
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