Navel to Knees With Chlorhexidine Gluconate: Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections

Area of Science:

• Healthcare-associated infections
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Patient safety

Background:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections.
• Over 75% of UTIs are linked to indwelling urinary catheters.
• Catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) can extend hospital stays by up to four days.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a new patient care standard for reducing CAUTIs.
• To compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine cleansing versus standard soap and water care.

Main Methods:

• A new standard of care involving twice-daily chlorhexidine cleansing from umbilicus to knees was implemented for patients with urinary catheters.
• This protocol was also applied after incontinent bowel movements.
• Data were collected and analyzed over a 9-month period.

Main Results:

• The average CAUTI rate decreased from 3.06 to 0.46 per 1000 urinary catheter days.
• This represents a significant reduction in infection rates following the intervention.

Conclusions:

• Routine urinary catheter care with chlorhexidine, including after bowel movements, can significantly decrease CAUTIs.
• This intervention offers a more effective approach compared to standard soap and water care for preventing CAUTIs.