Background: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.7 million patients per year develop hospital-associated infections (HAI), of whom 99,000 die. HAIs financially impact the United States healthcare system with an estimated cost of $6 billion per year. At Platte Valley Medical Center (PVMC) in 2013, the urinary catheter utilization ratio and rates [...]

Background: Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) and Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) carry a huge health care burden and is associated with increased length of stay and potential harm for the patient. There is an estimated total healthcare cost of $896 per infection for CAUTI and $45,814 per infection associated with CLABSI. The [...]