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A Chlorhexidine Gluconate Protocol to Decrease Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: A Quality Improvement
Susan K Lilly1, Nicole S Ragon, Shelly R Andre
1Author Affiliations: Medical Surgical Unit/Float Pool (Dr Lilly); Critical Care Services (Mrs Ragon); Quality and Patient Safety (Mrs Andre); and Medical Surgical Unit, CHI Health St. Elizabeth, Lincoln, Nebraska (Mrs Tran).
Background:
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) lead to higher health care costs and adverse patient outcomes.
Local Problem:
A Midwestern acute care hospital saw an increase in CAUTI rates from July to December 2022.
Methods:
Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles guided this quality improvement project.
Interventions:
Staff education and coaching facilitated a change from daily bathing and urinary catheter care using soap and water to using chlorhexidine gluconate wipes for all adult patients with indwelling urinary catheters.
Results:
This change led to a substantial 81.1% reduction in the CAUTI rate, sustained over 24 months, decreasing from an average rate of 2.12 to 0.40.
Conclusion:
Implementing a standardized chlorhexidine gluconate bathing and catheter care protocol significantly reduced CAUTI rates, suggesting it is an effective strategy for minimizing CAUTI risk in acute care settings.
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