Effectiveness of a bundled approach to reduce urinary catheters and infection rates in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common nosocomial infections. In 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began imposing financial penalties for institutions where CAUTI rates are higher than predicted. However, the surveillance definition for CAUTI is not a clinical diagnosis and may represent asymptomatic bacteriuria. The objective of this study was to compare rates of urinary catheterization and CAUTI before and after the implementation of a bundled intervention.

METHODS: This retrospective review evaluated trauma patients from January 2013-January 2015. The bundled intervention optimized the urinary catheterization process and culturing practices to reduce false positives. The CAUTI rate was defined as a positive surveillance CAUTI divided by total catheter days multiplied by 1,000 days.

RESULTS: A total of 6,236 patients were included (pre: n = 5,003; post: n = 1,233). Fewer patients in the post bundle group received a urinary catheter (pre: 25% vs post: 16%; P < .001). After bundle implementation, the CAUTI rate reduced over one third (pre: 4.07 vs post: 2.56; incidence rate ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-2.07).

CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of patients exposed to urinary catheters and catheter days was decreased, optimization of culturing practices was essential to prevent the CAUTI rate from increasing from a reduced denominator. Implementation of a CAUTI prevention bundle works synergistically to improve patient safety and hospital performance.