Culturing practices and the care of the urinary catheter in reducing NHSN-defined catheter-associated urinary tract infections: The tale of two teaching hospitals.

Bardossy AC1, Williams T2, Jones K2, Szpunar S3, Zervos M1, Alangaden G1, Reyes K1, Fakih MG4.

Author information

1: 1Division of Infectious Diseases,Henry Ford Health System,Detroit,Michigan.
2: 2Department of Infection Prevention and Control,Ascension St John Hospital.
3: 3Medical Education,Ascension St John Hospital,Detroit,Michigan.
4: 4Care Excellence,Ascension Healthcare,St Louis,Missouri.

Abstract

We compared interventions to improve urinary catheter care and urine culturing in adult intensive care units of 2 teaching hospitals. Compared to hospital A, hospital B had lower catheter utilization, more compliance with appropriate indications and maintenance, but higher urine culture use and more positive urine cultures per 1,000 patient days.