Background: Urinary catheters, vascular catheters, and wounds such as pressure injuries are often hidden from view under gowns and sheets – out of sight, out of mind – contributing to prolonged catheter use, infections, delayed interventions, and diagnostic errors for symptoms (e.g., fever, delirium) related to catheters and wounds. We developed and pilot tested a [...]

Background: The Society of Hospital Medicine’s Choosing Wisely guidelines recommend regular assessment of inpatients’ need for urinary catheters and telemetry monitoring. Since studies suggest clinicians are not aware which patients have an indwelling catheter or are on telemetry, we aimed to use the electronic patient list to improve cognitive awareness of unnecessary urinary catheters and [...]

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a common and clinically important hospital-associated infection throughout the world. A few data from Japan exist regarding the prevalence and appropriateness of urinary catheters in hospitalized patients but no interventions have been proven to decrease unnecessary urinary catheter use in Japan. Our aim of this study is to [...]

Background: Indwelling urinary catheters (IDUCs) are commonplace in hospital medicine wards, facilitating patient care but introducing risks such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The urgency to minimize these complications has spurred initiatives to refine catheter utilization protocols. This study examines the efficacy of the Foley Removal Countdown Strategy, a novel, proactive approach in the [...]

Background: Misdiagnosis of catheter associated asymptomatic bacteriuria as CAUTI leads to inappropriate use of antibiotics and related consequences, including medication side effects, antibiotic resistance, C. difficile infection, and potential financial penalties to hospitals. Purpose: To develop and implement an evidence-based pathway to improve evaluation of CAUTI in our academic health system. Description: Health system leadership [...]

Background: Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are one of the most common hospital acquired infections and cost on average $13,793 per case according to the AHRQ. Many quality and safety organizations including the Society of Hospital Medicine recommend reducing the prevalence of indwelling urinary catheters (IUC) as a means to reduce the incidence of [...]

Background: Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a leading cause of hospital acquired infections. In this analysis, we aim to examine the incidence of CAUTI over the last 8 years and potential social determinants of health that lend to increasing mortality and morbidity during inpatient hospitalizations. Methods: Patient data was collected for years 2011-2018 [...]