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Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) occur commonly in hospitalized patients. CAUTI is recognized by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a preventable condition, and CMS denies additional payments to hospitals for CAUTI.
Investigators report outcomes from >600 hospitals in 34 U.S. states and territories that participated in a national quality-improvement initiative. Interventions included (1) daily assessment of presence and necessity of indwelling urinary catheters; (2) considering alternative urine collection methods; and (3) emphasizing aseptic catheter-insertion technique and proper ongoing maintenance. All interventions were undertaken with a multidisciplinary team approach emphasizing communication. …