Guidelines to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection: 1980 to 2010

Urinary tract infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

SUMMARYUrinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections in otherwise healthy individuals. UTI is also common in healthcare settings where patients often require urinary catheters to alleviate urinary retention. The placement of a urinary catheter often leads to catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) caused by a broad range of opportunistic pathogens, commonly referred to as ESKAPE (Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter) pathogens. Our understanding of CAUTI is complicated by the differences in pathogens, in initial microbial load, changes that occur due to the duration of catheterization, and the relationship between infection (colonization) and disease symptoms. To advance our understanding of CAUTI, we reviewed UTI and CAUTI caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is unique in that it is not commonly found associated with human microbiomes. For this reason, the ability of P. aeruginosa to cause UTI and CAUTI requires the introduction of the bacteria to the bladder from catheterization. Once in the host, the virulence factors used by P. aeruginosa in these infections remain an area of ongoing research. In this review, we will discuss studies that focus on P. aeruginosa UTI and CAUTI to better understand the infection dynamics and outcome in clinical settings, virulence factors associated with P. aeruginosa isolated from the urinary tract, and animal studies to test which bacterial factors are required for this infection. Understanding how P. aeruginosa can cause UTI and CAUTI can provide an understanding of how these infections initiate and progress and may provide possible strategies to limit these infections.

Efficacy of expanded periurethral cleansing in reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infection in comatose patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The effect of the periurethral cleansing range on catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) occurrence remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of expanded periurethral cleansing for reducing CAUTI in comatose patients.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, eligible patients in our hospital were enrolled and allocated randomly to the experimental group (expanded periurethral cleansing protocol; n = 225) or the control group (usual periurethral cleansing protocol; n = 221). The incidence of CAUTI on days 3, 7, and 10 after catheter insertion were compared, and the pathogen results and influencing factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

The incidences of CAUTI in the experimental and control groups on days 3, 7, and 10 were (5/225, 2.22% vs. 7/221, 3.17%, P = 0.54), (12/225, 5.33% vs. 18/221, 8.14%, P = 0.24), and (23/225, 10.22% vs. 47/221, 21.27%, P = 0.001), respectively; Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were the most common species in the two groups. The incidences of bacterial CAUTI and fungal CAUTI in the two groups were 11/225, 4.89% vs. 24/221, 10.86%, P = 0.02) and (10/225, 4.44% vs. 14/221, 6.33%, P = 0.38), respectively. The incidences of polymicrobial CAUTI in the two groups were 2/225 (0.89%) and 9/221 (4.07%), respectively (P = 0.03). The percentages of CAUTI-positive females in the two groups were 9.85% (13/132) and 29.52% (31/105), respectively (P < 0.05). The proportion of CAUTI-positive patients with diabetes in the experimental and control groups was 17.72% (14/79), which was lower than the 40.85% (29/71) in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Expanded periurethral cleansing could reduce the incidence of CAUTI, especially those caused by bacteria and multiple pathogens, in comatose patients with short-term catheterization (≤ 10 days). Female patients and patients with diabetes benefit more from the expanded periurethral cleansing protocol for reducing CAUTI.

Effectiveness of an External Urinary Device for Female Anatomy and Trends in Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an external female urinary management system (external urinary device for female anatomy [EUDFA]) in critically ill women unable to self-toilet and to identify rates of indwelling catheter use, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), urinary incontinence (UI), and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) before and after the introduction of the EUDFA.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational, and quasi-experimental design.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

The sample comprised 50 adult female patients in 4 critical/progressive care units using an EUDFA at a large academic hospital in the Midwestern United States. All adult patients in these units were included in the aggregate data.

METHODS

Prospective data collected from the adult female patients over 7 days included urine diverted from the device to a canister and total leakage. Aggregate unit rates of indwelling catheter use, CAUTIs, UI, and IAD were retrospectively examined during 2016, 2018, and 2019. Means and percentages were compared using t tests or chi-square tests.

RESULTS

The EUDFA successfully diverted 85.5% of patients' urine. Indwelling urinary catheter use was significantly lower in 2018 (40.6%) and 2019 (36.6%) compared with 2016 (43.9%) (P < .01). The rate of CAUTIs was lower in 2019 than in 2016, but not significantly (1.34 per 1000 catheter-days vs 0.50, P = .08). The percentage of incontinent patients with IAD was 69.2% in 2016 and 39.5% in 2018-2019 (P = .06).

CONCLUSIONS

The EUDFA was effective in diverting urine from critically ill female incontinent patients and indwelling catheter utilization.

Self-Disinfecting Urethral Catheter to Overcome Urinary Infections: From Antimicrobial Photodynamic Action to Antibacterial Biochemical Entities

Medical-device-related infections are considered a worldwide public health problem. In particular, urinary catheters are responsible for 75% of cases of hospital urinary infections (a mortality rate of 2.3%) and present a high cost for public and private health systems. Some actions have been performed and described aiming to avoid it, including clinical guidelines for catheterization procedure, antibiotic prophylaxis, and use of antimicrobial coated-urinary catheters. In this review paper, we present and discuss the functionalization of urinary catheters surfaces with antimicrobial entities (e.g., photosensitizers, antibiotics, polymers, silver salts, oxides, bacteriophage, and enzymes) highlighting the immobilization of photosensitizing molecules for antimicrobial photodynamic applications. Moreover, the characterization techniques and (photo)antimicrobial effects of the coated-urinary catheters are described and discussed. We highlight the most significant examples in the last decade (2011-2021) concerning the antimicrobial coated-urinary catheter and their potential use, limitations, and future perspectives.

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)

One of the most prevalent health-related illnesses globally is catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). CAUTIs account for almost half of all hospital-acquired diseases. Most of the healthcare-acquired urinary tract infections result from catheter tubes implantation. These tubes connect a collecting system and the urinary bladder via the urethra. These are known as indwelling urinary catheters. The length of catheterization has a key role in starting bacteriuria since biofilm eventually forms on all of these devices. Despite the low percentage of people with bacteriuria who start showing symptoms, there is nevertheless a significant burden associated with these contamination due to the repeated use of indwelling urinary devices. Minimizing indwelling device usage and stopping the catheter as soon as medically possible are the two most crucial preventative measures for bacteriuria and infection when device use is required. Efforts to avoid catheter-acquired urinary infections must be implemented and monitored by infection control guidelines in healthcare institutions. These approaches include monitoring device use, the suitability of device justifications, and problems. Ultimately, technological advancements in device substances that inhibit colony generation will be necessary to avoid these infestations. There is still some way by which we can bring down the increased phenomenon of catheter-associated urinary tract contamination by maintaining hygiene while handling the catheter and patients and keeping the infected patients away or isolated from unaffected patients as a precaution. This article mainly focuses on an overview that helps with discussing prevention, risk factors, diagnosis, control and management of CAUTI.

Incidence, risk factors and clinical implications of postoperative urinary tract infection in geriatric hip fractures

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in geriatric patients; however, little is known about the impact of UTI in orthopedic trauma. The present study was designed to determine the risk factors and clinical impact of postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) in acute geriatric hip fractures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Geriatric patients (≥65 years of age) undergoing hip fracture surgery were identified within the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program between 2016 and 2019. Patients presenting with UTI at the time of surgery were excluded. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients with and without postoperative UTI. Multivariate logistic regression was performed, controlling for potential confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 46,263 patients included in the study. Overall, 1,397 (3.02%) patients had postoperative UTI. Patients who developed postoperative UTI had higher rates of pneumonia (6.44% vs. 3.76%, p < 0.001), DVT (2.22% vs. 1.04%, p < 0.001), sepsis (7.73% vs. 0.62%, p < 0.001), and more frequently experienced postoperative hospital lengths of stay exceeding 6 days (37.94% vs. 20.33%, p < 0.001). Hospital readmission occurred more frequently in patients with postoperative UTI (24.55% vs. 7.85%, p < 0.001), but surprisingly, these patients had a lower mortality rate (1.36% vs. 2.2%, p < 0.001). Adjusted analysis demonstrated the following variables associated with postoperative UTI: age ≥ 85 (OR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.08 - 1.73), ASA class ≥ 3 (OR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.21 - 2.08,), chronic steroid use (OR = 1.451, 95%CI = 1.05 - 1.89), blood transfusion (OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.05 - 1.48), and >2 days delay from admission to operation (OR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.05 - 1.79). Postoperative UTI was significantly associated with sepsis (OR = 7.65, 95%CI = 5.72 - 10.21), postoperative length of stay >2 days (OR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.07 - 3.13), and readmission (OR = 3, 95%CI = 2.54 - 3.55).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, postoperative UTI was found in 3% of geriatric hip fracture patients. Predictors of postoperative UTI were age ≥ 85, ASA class ≥ 3, chronic steroid use, blood transfusion, and time to operation > 2 days from admission. Results showed that postoperative UTI is independently associated with sepsis, postoperative length of stay beyond 2 days, and hospital readmission. To diminish the risk of UTI and its consequences, we recommend operating geriatric hip fractures in 24-48 hours after admission.

Aspects of Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Urinary Bladder Catheterisation and Their Implementation in Nursing Practice

In the case of the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) related to healthcare provision, high-quality and comprehensively provided nursing care is essential. Implementation of preventive strategies is based on recommended procedures, and the introduction of whole sets of measures has been shown to be effective. The objective of this research is to find out whether the providers of acute bed care have implemented the steps of CAUTI prevention, and specifically which measures leading to improved quality of care in the area of urinary infections are already in place. To determine this, we carried out quantitative research. Data were collected using a questionnaire-based investigation; we used two non-standardised and one standardised questionnaire, and the respondents were general nurses in management positions (n = 186). The results revealed that result-related CAUTI indicators are monitored by only one-third of the respondents, and records of catheterisation indication are not kept by 17.3% of general nurses. The results of the research showed deficiencies in the monitoring of CAUTI outcome and process indicators, and a weakness of the implemented preventive measures is the maintenance of catheterisation documentation. Periodic CAUTI prevention training is not implemented as recommended. It is positive that there are well-working teams of HAI prevention experts in hospitals.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection

This guideline contains updated recommendations on the management and prevention of CAUTIs by the Urological Association of Asia and the Asian Association of Urinary Tract Infection and Sexually Transmitted Infection.

Comparison of the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infection by Replacement Time of the Urinary Drainage System

BACKGROUND

Urinary catheters (UCs) with a closed urinary drainage system have been widely used in patients for many years. However, the frequency of replacing and operating these devices may be associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).

PURPOSE

This study was designed to compare the incidence of CAUTI by replacement time (every 14 or ≥ 15 days) of the urinary drainage system.

METHODS

This 1-year prospective, nonrandomized controlled study was conducted in a major teaching hospital. The Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs Statement checklist was used. All of the patients with UCs were divided into two groups based on each patient's preference with regard to replacement time of the urinary drainage system.

RESULTS

Five hundred sixty-two patients were evaluated, and 341 patients with UCs were enrolled as participants in the study. In the per-protocol analysis, 16 patients (22.2%; 9.3 episodes/1,000 catheter-days) in the 14-day group and 15 patients (17.9%; relative risk = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [0.66, 2.34]) in the ≥ 15-day group (7.7 episodes/1,000 catheter-days; incidence density ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval [0.60, 2.43]) had CAUTIs. A comparison of cleanliness within urinary bags showed no significant intergroup difference (p > .05). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the incidence of CAUTI between the two groups was also not significantly different (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

No statistically significant difference in the incidence of CAUTI was identified between patients who used the 14-day replacement interval and those who used the ≥ 15-day replacement interval for their urinary drainage system.

Examining instruments used to measure knowledge of catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention in health care workers: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most frequently occurring health care-associated infection among hospitalized patients. Adequate knowledge of CAUTI in health care workers supports effective prevention and control of the infection. This systematic review assesses instruments used to assess knowledge of CAUTI prevention in health care workers to inform future research. The catheter lifecycle model was used to evaluate the conceptual framework upon which the measurement instruments were based. Finally, the psychometric quality of these instruments was evaluated.

METHODS

Five electronic databases were searched for published studies and instruments. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments checklist was used to assess the psychometric quality reporting of the instruments.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies met the review inclusion criteria and 13 instruments were available for review. Most of the instruments did not address all knowledge components essential for CAUTI prevention as defined by the catheter lifecycle model. The psychometric quality of the instruments was not sufficiently evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

Few instruments are available for CAUTI prevention knowledge measurement. The instruments were not closely aligned with the catheter lifecycle model as a framework. If CAUTI knowledge cannot be measured accurately using an effective instrument, this has the potential to impact negatively on clinical care and the focus of interventions. There is a need for a standardized instrument for the evaluation of CAUTI prevention knowledge so that targeted interventions can address knowledge deficits.

Perioperative Management of Elderly patients (PriME): recommendations from an Italian intersociety consensus

BACKGROUND

Surgical outcomes in geriatric patients may be complicated by factors such as multiple comorbidities, low functional performance, frailty, reduced homeostatic capacity, and cognitive impairment. An integrated multidisciplinary approach to management is, therefore, essential in this population, but at present, the use of such an approach is uncommon. The Perioperative Management of Elderly patients (PriME) project has been established to address this issue.

AIMS

To develop evidence-based recommendations for the integrated care of geriatric surgical patients.

METHODS

A 14-member Expert Task Force of surgeons, anesthetists, and geriatricians was established to develop evidence-based recommendations for the pre-, intra-, and postoperative care of hospitalized older patients (≥ 65 years) undergoing elective surgery. A modified Delphi approach was used to achieve consensus, and the strength of recommendations and quality of evidence was rated using the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 81 recommendations were proposed, covering preoperative evaluation and care (30 items), intraoperative management (19 items), and postoperative care and discharge (32 items).

CONCLUSIONS

These recommendations should facilitate the multidisciplinary management of older surgical patients, integrating the expertise of the surgeon, the anesthetist, the geriatrician, and other specialists and health care professionals (where available) as needed. These roles may vary according to the phase and setting of care and the patient's conditions.

The Natural History and Composition of Urinary Catheter Biofilms: Early Uropathogen Colonization with Intraluminal and Distal Predominance

PURPOSE

We sought to determine the composition and initiation site of bacterial biofilm on indwelling urinary catheters and to track biofilm progression with time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Indwelling urinary catheters were collected from 2 tertiary care centers following removal from patients. Indwelling time was noted and catheters were de-identified. Catheters were sectioned, stained for biofilms and analyzed by spectrophotometry and visualization. Biofilm colonization patterns were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and bacterial composition was determined using next generation sequencing.

RESULTS

We collected and analyzed a total of 33 catheters from 26 males and 7 females with indwelling time ranging from 15 minutes to 43 days. Biofilm colonization was consistently high on the region of the balloon for all indwelling times. After week 1 the distal third of the catheter had higher biofilm colonization than the proximal third (week 2 p=0.034). At all indwelling times the intraluminal surface of the catheter had greater biofilm colonization than the outer surface. Next generation sequencing detected potential uropathogenic bacteria in all 10 analyzed samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The catheter balloon, its distal aspect and its lumen were the predominant locations of biofilm comprising uropathogenic bacteria. Strategies to prevent or treat biofilm should be targeted to these areas.

Validity of a disposable catheter to drain urine overnight in neurogenic bladder

BACKGROUND

Overnight catheter drainage (OCD) is introduced to avoid overdistention of the bladder at night-time when clean intermittent catheterization proves ineffective for daytime management of neurogenic bladder. We adopted OCD using disposable silicone no-balloon (DSnB) catheters, with the distal end outside the body opening into diapers. OCD using DSnB catheter, however, had risks of retrograde bacterial contamination. Therefore, in this study, the validity of equipping DSnB catheters with check valves to prevent retrograde bacterial contamination was examined.

METHODS

For the in vitro study, excised saline-filled swine bladders were drained using DSnB catheters with or without check valves, and the time required for intravesical pressure to reach 5 cmH₂ O was measured. For the in vivo study, in cross-over experiments comparing DSnB catheters with and without check valves, OCD using DSnB catheters for 10 h was performed in rabbits under analgesia. Bacterial growth from urine samples before and after OCD and residual urine volume were examined.

RESULTS

For the in vitro experiment, the median drainage time was 368.2 s (range, 88-1,085 s) and 344.7 s (range, 28-840 s) with and without check valves, respectively (n = 6), which was not significantly different. For the in vivo experiment, in cross-over experiments (n = 8) new bacterial growth rates after OCD did not differ, and median residual urine volume was 17.1 mL (range, 0-75 mL) and 1.2 mL (range, 0-5 mL) with and without check valves, respectively (P = 0.055).

CONCLUSIONS

Installing a check valve in the DSnB catheter did not decrease new bacterial growth, while tending to increase residual urine volume. DSnB catheters without check valves appear to be better for continuous drainage of urine from bladder.

Kamishibai cards to sustain evidence-based practices to reduce healthcare-associated infections

BACKGROUND

Sustaining healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention practices is complex. We examined the use of Kamishibai Cards (K Cards) as a tool to encourage compliance interactions between leaders and staff.

METHODS

We explored one unit of a children's hospital to assess acceptability of K Cards. Interactions were recorded (n = 14), and interviews were conducted (n = 22). We used the Health Belief Model (HBM) for analyses. Central line utilization, bundle compliance and rates of HAIs were also examined.

RESULTS

Staff members consider K Card interactions reminders of bundle elements and acceptable for creating positive interactions. Although no causal inference can be made, during K Card implementation, CLABSI rates dropped from 1.83 in 2015 to 0.0 through June 2018. Central line utilization decreased by 3%.

DISCUSSION

Moving beyond theory to providing practical sustainability tools is an important implementation step. Although our findings are not generalizable, capturing what occurred on one unit provides opportunity to discover how key leadership factors (communication and leadership style) influence the uptake, acceptability and sustained adoption of evidence-based practices.

CONCLUSIONS

K Cards are a practical tool to sustain evidence-based practices and promote communication between leadership and staff - keeping compliance on the minds of frontline workers.

Urinary Management With an External Female Collection Device

BACKGROUND:

Strategies to decrease use of female indwelling urinary catheters and catheter-associated urinary tract infections are challenging due to the limited availability of proper fitting external collection devices. Female urinary incontinence predisposes the skin to potential pain, itching, burning, infection, or pressure injuries.

CASE STUDIES:

This article discusses 3 patients' trajectory of care with use of an external female urinary collection device. All of these females were incontinent of urine after the indwelling urinary catheter was removed and managed with an external female urinary collection device.

CONCLUSIONS:

The use of an external female urinary collection device is a feasible alternative to an indwelling urinary catheter as well as managing urinary incontinence.

Decolonization potential of 0.02% polyhexanide irrigation solution in urethral catheters under practice-like in vitro conditions

Background

Long-term use of indwelling urethral catheters is associated with high risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) and blockage, which may in turn cause significant morbidity and reduce the life of the catheter. A 0.02% polyhexanide irrigation solution has been developed for routine mechanical rinsing together with bacterial decolonization of suprapubic and indwelling urethral catheters.

Methods

Using a practice-like in vitro assay and standard silicon catheters, artificially contaminated with clinically relevant bacteria, experiments were carried out to evaluate the bacterial decolonization potential of polyhexanide vs. 1) no intervention (standard approach) and 2) irrigation with a saline (NaCl 0.9%) solution. Swabbing and irrigation was used to extract the bacteria.

Results

Irrigation with polyhexanide reduced the microbial population vs. the control catheters by a factor of 1.64 log₁₀ (swab extraction) and by a factor of 2.56 log₁₀ (membrane filtration). The difference in mean microbial counts between the two groups (0.90) was statistically significant in favor of polyhexanide when the liquid extraction method was used (p = 0.034). The difference between the two groups using the swab extraction method did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

The saline and polyhexanide solutions are able to reduce bacterial load of catheters, which shows a combined mechanical and antimicrobial effect. Further research is required to evaluate the long-term tolerability and efficacy of polyhexanide in clinical practice.

Dynamic changes in the appropriateness of urinary catheter use among hospitalized older patients in the emergency department

Objectives

To investigate incidence, rationales, related factors and outcomes for changing from appropriate catheter placement to inappropriate use among hospitalized older patients in the emergency department.

Methods

A secondary analysis was adopted from a longitudinal study that was designed to follow the lifecycle of the urinary catheter among hospitalized older patients. Patients aged 65 and older with a urinary catheter that had been placed in the emergency department were included. Demographic factors, present health conditions, conditional factors of catheter placement, and rationales for daily urinary catheter use were collected from the original data. Inappropriate urinary catheter days were evaluated as an outcome.

Results

Appropriate urinary catheters were placed in the emergency department in 117 of the 156 patients (75%). Of these patients, 77 patients (65.8%) experienced a change from appropriate placement to inappropriate use, with a mean duration of 2.88±1.56 days. The common rationales were post-operation for hip fracture (36.3%) and no longer needing to monitor urine output (27.2%). A hierarchical regression model shows that a change from appropriate catheter placement to inappropriate use was associated with a diagnosis of urinary tract infection (OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.03–0.77; p = 0.02) and no record of the indication for catheter placement (OR = 4.76; 95% CI = 1.20–18.90; p = 0.02), and all variables together explained 35.9% of the variance. In addition, a change from appropriate placement to inappropriate use was further associated with prolonging inappropriate catheter-days (β = 5.34; 95% CI: 3.72–6.97; p <0.001).

Conclusions

The study highlights a considerable percentage of change from appropriate placement to inappropriate use. Efforts to construct reminder intervention, to improve the record of catheter placement and continued attention to catheter use are necessary to reduce inappropriate urinary catheter use.

Factors Associated With Removal of Urinary Catheters After Surgery

Publicly available data from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services were used to analyze factors associated with removal of the urinary catheter within 48 hours after surgery in 59 Massachusetts hospitals. Three factors explained 36% of the variance in postoperative urinary catheter removal: fewer falls per 1000 discharges, better nurse-patient communication, and higher percentage of Medicare patients. Timely urinary catheter removal was significantly greater in hospitals with more licensed nursing hours per patient day.

ERAS: Safety checklists, antibiotics, and VTE prophylaxis

The concept rested on several components that many of us have now tried to adopt or improve on, inclusive of a multidisciplinary team, a multimodal approach to anesthesia and preoperative preparedness, evidence-based approach to care protocols; and a change in management using interactive and continuous audit prior to and post-procedure. This article describes the development of ERAS protocols relative to checklist implementation, antibiotic use, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention, how these ideas are developed and operationalized as well as how they are evolving and spreading across the care continuum to achieve sustained outcome improvements.

[Recurrent and catheter-associated urinary tract infections : Prophylaxis and prevention]

Urinay tract infection (UTI) as one of the most frequent bacterial infections in humans is of utmost relevance. Because of the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, urinalysis should always include urine culture and a resistogram in order to avoid an unspecific selection and overuse of antibiotics. Prevention of recurrent UTI must first of all rule out predisposing uropathogenic conditions. Nowadays, a great variety of drugs, behavioral, and supportive treatment options can effectively minimize UTI recurrence. The growing importance of vaccines (immunotherapy), probiotics (lactobacilli), and standardized herbal preparations meets the need of reducing antibiotic use and the development of antimicrobial resistance. Around 80% of all nosocomial UTIs (nUTIs) are associated with indwelling urinary catheters. It is estimated that up to 70% of all nUTIs occurring in Germany may be avoided by using appropriate preventative measures. Therefore, profound knowledge about the basics of catheter-associated nUTIs and the correct management of urinary catheters are of utmost individual and socioeconomic importance.

The effect of a short educational intervention on the use of urinary catheters: a prospective cohort study

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of implementation of evidence-based recommendations to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).

Design

Prospective cohort study, conducted in 2010-12, with a before and after design.

Setting

A major referral university hospital.

Participants

Data were collected before (n = 244) and 1 year after (n = 255) the intervention for patients who received urinary catheters.

Intervention

The intervention comprised two elements: (i) aligning doctors' and nurses' knowledge of indications for the use of catheters and (ii) an educational effort consisting of three 30- to 45-minute sessions on evidence-based practice regarding catheter usage for nursing personnel on 17 medical and surgical wards.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures were the proportion of (i) admitted patients receiving urinary catheters during hospitalization, (ii) catheters inserted without indication, (iii) inpatient days with catheter and (iv) the incidence of CAUTIs per 1000 catheter days. Secondary outcome measures were the proportion of (i) catheter days without appropriate indication and (ii) patients discharged with a catheter.

Results

There was a reduction in the proportion of inpatient days with a catheter, from 44% to 41% (P = 0.006). There was also a reduction in the proportion of catheter days without appropriate indication (P < 0.001) and patients discharged with a catheter (P = 0.029). The majority of catheters were inserted outside the study wards.

Conclusions

A short educational intervention was feasible and resulted in significant practice improvements in catheter usage but no reduction of CAUTIs. Other measures than CAUTI may be more sensitive to detecting important practice changes.

Sub-Optimal Treatment of Bacterial Biofilms

Bacterial biofilm is an emerging clinical problem recognized in the treatment of infectious diseases within the last two decades. The appearance of microbial biofilm in clinical settings is steadily increasing due to several reasons including the increased use of quality of life-improving artificial devices. In contrast to infections caused by planktonic bacteria that respond relatively well to standard antibiotic therapy, biofilm-forming bacteria tend to cause chronic infections whereby infections persist despite seemingly adequate antibiotic therapy. This review briefly describes the responses of biofilm matrix components and biofilm-associated bacteria towards sub-lethal concentrations of antimicrobial agents, which may include the generation of genetic and phenotypic variabilities. Clinical implications of bacterial biofilms in relation to antibiotic treatments are also discussed.

External Collection Devices as an Alternative to the Indwelling Urinary Catheter: Evidence-Based Review and Expert Clinical Panel Deliberations

Multiple evidence-based guidelines have suggested clinicians consider external collection devices (ECD) as alternatives to indwelling catheters. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of evidence-based resources concerning their use. An expert consensus panel was convened to review the current state of the evidence, indications for ECDs as an alternative to an indwelling urinary catheter, identify knowledge gaps, and areas for future research. This article presents the results of the expert consensus panel meeting and a systematic literature review regarding ECD use in the clinical setting.

Quality Improvement-Focused Departmental Grand Rounds Reports: A Strategy to Engage General Surgery Residents

Background Many institutions are seeking ways to enhance their surgical trainees' quality improvement (QI) skills. Objective To educate trainees about the importance of lifelong performance improvement, chief residents at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine are members of a multidisciplinary QI team tasked with improving surgical outcomes. We describe the process and the results of this effort. Methods Our analysis used 2 data sources to assess complication rates: the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and ECOMP, our own internal complication database. Chief residents met with a multidisciplinary QI team to review complication rates from both data sources. Chief residents performed a case-by-case analysis of complications and a literature search in areas requiring improvement. Based on this information, chief residents met with the multidisciplinary team to select interventions for implementation, and delivered QI-focused grand rounds summarizing the QI process and new interventions. Results Since 2009, chief residents have presented 16 QI-focused grand rounds. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and surgical site infections (SSIs) were the most frequently discussed. Interventions to improve UTIs and SSIs were introduced to the department of surgery through these reports in 2011 and 2012. During this time we saw improvement in outcomes as measured by NSQIP odds ratio. Conclusions Departmental grand rounds are a suitable forum to review NSQIP data and our internal, resident-collected data as a means to engage chief residents in QI improvement, and can serve as a model for other institutions to engage surgery residents in QI projects.

[Prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections: established and new aspects for the clinical routine : Revised recommendations on "prevention and control of catheter-associated urinary tract infections" of the commission for hospital hygiene and infection prevention at the Robert Koch Institute]

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in Germany and are of particular relevance for intensive and standard care units. The revised guidelines of the commission for hospital hygiene and infection prevention (KRINKO) provide an update on prevention of CAUTI. The guidelines consider and evaluate the new literature published after the initial publication in 1999. The KRINKO recommendations should be implemented to protect patients from such infections, especially as CAUTIs are one of the most preventable types of HAI. In this respect tailor-made infection prevention bundles seem to be most effective and continuous infection surveillance procedures are of particular importance. Thus, a comparison with the reference data provided by the (German) National Reference Center for surveillance of nosocomial infections is possible. This article explains the recommendations for prevention measures included in the new KRINKO guidelines.

A realist analysis of hospital patient safety in Wales: applied learning for alternative contexts from a multisite case study

Background

Hospital patient safety is a major social problem. In the UK, policy responses focus on the introduction of improvement programmes that seek to implement evidence-based clinical practices using the Model for Improvement, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. Empirical evidence that the outcomes of such programmes vary across hospitals demonstrates that the context of their implementation matters. However, the relationships between features of context and the implementation of safety programmes are both undertheorised and poorly understood in empirical terms.

Objectives

This study is designed to address gaps in conceptual, methodological and empirical knowledge about the influence of context on the local implementation of patient safety programmes.

Design

We used concepts from critical realism and institutional analysis to conduct a qualitative comparative-intensive case study involving 21 hospitals across all seven Welsh health boards. We focused on the local implementation of three focal interventions from the 1000 Lives+patient safety programme: Improving Leadership for Quality Improvement, Reducing Surgical Complications and Reducing Health-care Associated Infection. Our main sources of data were 160 semistructured interviews, observation and 1700 health policy and organisational documents. These data were analysed using the realist approaches of abstraction, abduction and retroduction.

Setting

Welsh Government and NHS Wales.

Participants

Interviews were conducted with 160 participants including government policy leads, health managers and professionals, partner agencies with strategic oversight of patient safety, advocacy groups and academics with expertise in patient safety.

Main outcome measures

Identification of the contextual factors pertinent to the local implementation of the 1000 Lives+patient safety programme in Welsh NHS hospitals.

Results

An innovative conceptual framework harnessing realist social theory and institutional theory was produced to address challenges identified within previous applications of realist inquiry in patient safety research. This involved the development and use of an explanatory intervention–context–mechanism–agency–outcome (I-CMAO) configuration to illustrate the processes behind implementation of a change programme. Our findings, illustrated by multiple nested I-CMAO configurations, show how local implementation of patient safety interventions are impacted and modified by particular aspects of context: specifically, isomorphism, by which an intervention becomes adapted to the environment in which it is implemented; institutional logics, the beliefs and values underpinning the intervention and its source, and their perceived legitimacy among different groups of health-care professionals; and the relational structure and power dynamics of the functional group, that is, those tasked with implementing the initiative. This dynamic interplay shapes and guides actions leading to the normalisation or the rejection of the patient safety programme.

Conclusions

Heightened awareness of the influence of context on the local implementation of patient safety programmes is required to inform the design of such interventions and to ensure their effective implementation and operationalisation in the day-to-day practice of health-care teams. Future work is required to elaborate our conceptual model and findings in similar settings where different interventions are introduced, and in different settings where similar innovations are implemented.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Compliance With Guideline Statements for Urethral Catheterization in an Iranian Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND

It is believed that healthcare staff play an important role in minimizing complications related to urethral catheterization. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not healthcare staff complied with the standards for urethral catheterization.

METHODS

This study was conducted in Imam Reza teaching hospital, Tabriz, Iran, from July to September 2013. A total of 109 catheterized patients were selected randomly from surgical and medical wards and intensive care units (ICUs). A questionnaire was completed by healthcare staff for each patient to assess quality of care provided for catheter insertion, while catheter in situ, draining and changing catheter bags. Items of the questionnaire were obtained from guidelines for the prevention of infection. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 16.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 50.54±22.13. Of the 109 patients, 56.88% were admitted to ICUs. The mean duration of catheter use was 15.86 days. Among the 25 patients who had a urinalysis test documented in their hospital records, 11 were positive for urinary tract infection (UTI). The lowest rate of hand-washing was reported before bag drainage (49.52%). The closed drainage catheter system was not available at all. Among the cases who had a daily genital area cleansing, in 27.63% cases, the patients or their family members performed the washing. In 66.35% of cases, multiple-use lubricant gel was applied; single-use gel was not available. The rate of documentation for bag change was 79%.

CONCLUSION

The majority of the guideline statements was adhered to; however, some essential issues, such as hand hygiene were neglected. And some patients were catheterized routinely without proper indication. Limiting catheter use to mandatory situations and encouraging compliance with guidelines are recommended.

Risk Factors for Nosocomial Bacteremia Secondary to Urinary Catheter-Associated Bacteriuria: A Systematic Review

A systematic appraisal of evidence suggests that male patients in hospital may be at higher risk for bacteremia following urinary catheter-associated bacteriuria than females. Other risk factors include immunosuppressant medication, red blood cell transfusion, neutropenia, malignancy, and liver disease.

[Nosocomial infections in urology]

Nosocomial infections (NI) may be a serious and mostly avoidable consequence of medical procedures and often cause a significant aggravation of the patients underlying disease. Following surgical site infections, urinary tract infections (UTI) represent the second most common fraction of NIs (22.4%) in Germany and contribute to approximately 155,000 nosocomial UTIs (nUTI) every year.Prevention of NI is of utmost individual as well as socioeconomic importance especially regarding the continuing worldwide increase in antibiotic resistance. National legislature has responded to this challenge by amending the German Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (IfSG) and other measures. Their practical importance for various clinical settings in urology is outlined in this overview.The correct use of urinary catheters has the greatest impact for prevention and control as nUTIs are associated with urinary catheters in most of the cases (80%). The recently updated guidelines of the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention of the Robert Koch Institute (KRINKO) and the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) provide detailed recommendations in an evidence-based and practice-oriented manner as summarized in this article.

"It's easier to stick a tube in": a qualitative study to understand clinicians' individual decisions to place urinary catheters in acute medical care

BACKGROUND

Indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) placed in acute care are a leading cause of healthcare-associated urinary tract infection. Despite initiatives to minimise the placement of IUCs, levels of inappropriate use are still considered unacceptable. IUC practice is difficult to change, and factors influencing clinicians' decisions need to be better understood.

OBJECTIVE

To explore why clinicians decide to place IUCs in acute medical care.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study in the emergency department and acute medical wards of a 1200+ bed hospital, undertaking 30 retrospective think aloud and 20 semistructured interviews with nurses and physicians who made the decision to place an IUC. A purposive sample and thematic analysis were used.

RESULTS

Opinions on when an IUC was warranted varied considerably. Inconsistency in decision-making was caused by differing beliefs on when an IUC was appropriate for each clinical indication. Numerous patient and non-patient factors, including clinical setting, resources, patient age and gender and staff workload, also impacted on each decision. Assessing when the benefit of an IUC outweighed the risk could be problematic due to conflicting goals.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings help to explain why clinicians sometimes deviate from IUC best practice guidance and resist interventions to modify practice. In order to engage nurses and physicians in change, interventions to reduce IUC use should acknowledge and respond to the complexity and lack of clarity often faced by clinicians making the decision to place an IUC. However, it is equally important that inconsistencies in IUC-related beliefs are recognised, investigated and, where appropriate, challenged.

Pad weighing for reduction of indwelling urinary use and catheter-associated urinary tract infection: a quality improvement project

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections pose a significant risk to hospitalized patients. Measuring accurate urinary output is a common reason for indwelling catheterizations in acutely ill patients. The risk of catheter-associated infections may be eliminated while maintaining ability to measure urinary output of incontinent patients through the use of a highly absorbent pad and weighing postincontinence. The dry pad weight is subtracted from the wet pad weight and the resulting difference (expressed in grams) equals the volume of urine leaked into the pad in milliliters. We found that using this system of improved measurement of urine output when compared to documenting the number of incontinent episodes while allowing removal of indwelling urethral catheters as soon as possible.

Common infection control practices in the emergency department: a literature review

BACKGROUND

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are a major health concern, despite being largely avoidable. The emergency department (ED) is an essential component of the health care system and subject to workflow challenges, which may hinder ED personnel adherence to guideline-based infection prevention practices.

METHODS

The purpose of this review was to examine published literature regarding adherence rates among ED personnel to selected infection control practices, including hand hygiene (HH) and aseptic technique during the placement of central venous catheters and urinary catheters. We also reviewed studies reporting rates of ED equipment contamination. PubMed was searched for studies that included adherence rates among ED personnel to HH during routine patient care, aseptic technique during the placement of central venous catheters and urinary catheters, and rates of equipment contamination.

RESULTS

In total, 853 studies was screened, and 589 abstracts were reviewed. The full texts of 36 papers were examined, and 23 articles were identified as meeting inclusion criteria. Eight studies used various scales to measure HH compliance, which ranged from 7.7% to 89.7%. Seven articles examined central venous catheters inserted in the ED or by emergency medicine residents. Detail of aseptic technique practices during urinary catheterization was lacking. Four papers described equipment contamination in the ED.

CONCLUSION

Standardized methods and definitions of compliance monitoring are needed to compare results across settings.

The epidemiology of bacteriuria and candiduria in critically ill patients

An observational study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of bacteriuria and candiduria in the intensive care unit (ICU), and the occurrence of blood stream infection (BSI) associated with ICU-acquired positive urine culture. Between 2006 and 2011, 444 episodes of either bacteriuria or candiduria defined by positive urine culture (microorganisms ⩾105 c.f.u./ml) occurred in 406 patients. Three hundred and seventy-seven (85%) were hospital-acquired including 221 which were ICU-acquired (6·4 ± 0·8 episodes/1000 ICU days). Escherichia coli was the most common bacteria of both community- and ICU-acquired bacteriuria/candiduria (49·2% and 29%, respectively). Candida spp. represented 55% (129/236) of pathogens responsible for ICU-acquired positive urine cultures. Patients with ICU-acquired candiduria had greater illness severity at ICU admission than those with ICU-acquired bacteriuria (APACHE III score 79 ± 25 vs. 66 ± 31, P = 0·0015). BSI associated with ICU-acquired positive urine culture occurred in 0·15/1000 ICU days and was more often due to Candida. In this study, Candida was the most common pathogen responsible for ICU-acquired positive urine cultures and illness severity was a risk factor for candiduria in the study population.

Postoperative Urinary Tract Infection and Short-Term Outcomes and Costs in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

Objectives

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been identified as a preventable “never event” by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. We sought to determine the relationship between UTI and in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, length of stay, and costs in head and neck cancer (HNCA) surgery.

Study Design

Cross-sectional analysis using cross-tabulations and multivariate regression modeling.

Setting

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database.

Subjects and Methods

Discharge data for 93,663 patients who underwent an ablative procedure for a malignant oral cavity, laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, or oropharyngeal neoplasm in 2003-2008 were analyzed.

Results

Urinary tract infection was diagnosed in 2% of patients, with catheter-associated UTI coded in only 20 patients. Patients with UTI were more likely to be older than 80 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; P = .008), be female (OR, 1.9; P < .001), have advanced comorbidity (OR, 1.8; P < .012), undergo major surgical procedures (OR, 1.7; P = .001), and have predisposing bladder and prostate conditions (OR, 3.8; P < .001), surgical complications (OR, 2.3; P < .001), and acute medical complications (OR, 3.1; P < .001). Urinary tract infection was associated with significantly increased length of hospitalization and hospital-related costs, after controlling for all other variables.

Conclusion

Urinary tract infection is unusual in HNCA surgical patients but is more common with extent of surgery and age and is significantly associated with postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, and hospital-related costs. Catheter-associated UTI is likely underestimated because of difficulty in distinguishing between a catheter-associated UTI and postoperative UTI in patients undergoing major surgical procedures, who routinely undergo perioperative urinary catheterization. Patients with HNCA are a high-risk group for this “never event,” particularly as the population ages.

Combinatorial small-molecule therapy prevents uropathogenic Escherichia coli catheter-associated urinary tract infections in mice

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) constitute the majority of nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTIs) and pose significant clinical challenges. These infections are polymicrobial in nature and are often associated with multidrug-resistant pathogens, including uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Urinary catheterization elicits major histological and immunological alterations in the bladder that can favor microbial colonization and dissemination in the urinary tract. We report that these biological perturbations impact UPEC pathogenesis and that bacterial reservoirs established during a previous UPEC infection, in which bacteriuria had resolved, can serve as a nidus for subsequent urinary catheter colonization. Mannosides, small molecule inhibitors of the type 1 pilus adhesin, FimH, provided significant protection against UPEC CAUTI by preventing bacterial invasion and shifting the UPEC niche primarily to the extracellular milieu and on the foreign body. By doing so, mannosides potentiated the action of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the prevention and treatment of CAUTI. In this study, we provide novel insights into UPEC pathogenesis in the context of urinary catheterization, and demonstrate the efficacy of novel therapies that target critical mechanisms for this infection. Thus, we establish a proof-of-principle for the development of mannosides to prevent and eventually treat these infections in the face of rising antibiotic-resistant uropathogens.