Reducing Nosocomial UTIs: War on Urinary Catheters in Michigan

A statewide quality-improvement effort dramatically reduced catheter use.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are responsible for more than one third of nosocomial infections; urinary catheter use is often to blame. In 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services set a goal of reducing catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI) rates by 25% by 2013. At that time, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had already stopped reimbursing hospitals for this “reasonably preventable” complication.

In 2007, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Keystone Center implemented a statewide project to reduce unnecessary urinary catheter use. All hospitals in Michigan were encouraged to participate in this multitiered educational and interventional initiative. To determine the effects of the intervention, researchers analyzed…

Reviewing Author

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)