Preventing Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Catheters - Essay Example

"Preventing Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Catheters" is a wonderful example of a paper on infections.
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) and Epidemiology have a good handbook to use concerning issues of infections cause by catheters in the urinary tract. Also known as Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), this problem is seen more in acute and long-term care clinical settings and is one of the leading healthcare infections which can also lead to death. Urinary tract infections from catheters constitute 36% of all healthcare-associated infections, with 1.7 million infections overall each year (APIC, 2008).

It is documented that those catheters left in place for two days or more, may instigate bacteria, with nearly 24% that will develop into CAUTI. Naturally, each patient’s situation is unique, and how long it should stay is determined by the over-riding health issue. In general, when patients acquire bacteremia, they have a threefold chance more of dying than other non-infected patients, and therefore, with catheters providing a higher chance for acquiring infection, it is then important to detach the catheter as soon as possible (APIC, 2008). A special note of when urine specimens are taken, the sample should always indicate whether a catheter was in at the time the sample was taken, or if the sample was taken after the catheter was removed.

The guidelines present a survey regarding catheters to be inserted and whether they meet facility policy or medical protocols, including taking the individual patient into consideration for its required use. These questions range from determining the type of catheter to be used (three-way, temperature-sensing catheter, Coude catheter, or some other type) if it is closed-system maintained, how it will be secured, whether it will be below the patient’s bladder (side of the bed), secured or unsecured, and whether there is a measuring device, noted with the patient’s information (APIC, 2008). Utilizing a set of guidelines is one big prevention factor in preventing UTIs, along with stringent record-keeping of all data associated with catheter documentation and urine sample acquisition.

A very good study was done by a nurse, Tina Magers (2013) at her facility as part of an evidence-based practice project which reviewed a rising incidence of UTIs beyond the regular rates. Each step of the project was based on a traditional process using the EBP infrastructure and PICOT question. After the PICOT was developed, then the best evidence was compiled for analysis to provide a solution to the clinic’s problem with the rise in UTIs. Eight criteria were developed by which the nurses compared their daily assessments and were also compared over the year, with the number of available beds and patients. Each shift also had to be trained in the protocol for the study and it was noted that there was a UTI spike when new associates came into the program but were not properly trained on what was expected. Overall, there was a drop once the catheters were strictly monitored and also put in line for removal sooner than had been done before (Magers, 2013).

This last research study was a good example of using the EBP process for determining what the solution should be, based on the PICOT question of the problem. While doing secondary research is a very valid component of EBP, primary research should also be encouraged to assist in the documentation that could help others who face the same issues. This would be an excellent opportunity for you to also conduct research regarding how long catheters should stay in, based on the current rates of UTIs, as this can help your practice.