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The Importance Of Cautis

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Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) have become one of the most common healthcare-acquired infections in the United States (Gould, Gaze, Drey, & Cooper, 2017). CAUTIs commonly affect elderly patients in both acute-care settings and long-term care facilities such as nursing homes (Gould et al., 2017). The research suggests that while healthcare-associated urinary tract infections are increasing, the majority of them are preventable by practicing evidence-based prevention measures (McNeill, 2017). It was determined by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) (as cited in McNeill, 2017) that four essential components can contribute to the prevention of CAUTIs: avoiding unnecessary placement of indwelling catheters, …show more content…

It must also be noted that research indicates many catheters are left in place unnecessarily or removal orders are carelessly forgotten, or not correctly followed (McNeill, 2017). With the elderly being at an increased risk, adhering to placement guidelines, avoiding unnecessary placement of catheters, and paying attention to catheter duration can contribute to a reduction in the risk of infection. Insertion and Removal CAUTIs are urinary tract infections (UTIs) related to the placement of indwelling catheters and are typically caused by the transfer of bacteria into the urinary tract-either during or after placement (McNeill, 2017). When a catheter is believed to be clinically necessary, using aseptic technique is another preventative measure to avoid CAUTIs (McNeill, 2017). Nurses are the primary health care professionals who insert catheters (McNeill, 2017). Adherence to the principles of aseptic technique and emphasizing the use of a catheter-insertion nursing policy may help in promoting accurate placement and minimizing the infection risk (McNeill, 2017). In addition to safe practice during insertion, the removal of catheters as early as possible is another basic yet critical component for the prevention of infection (McNeill, 2017). Research shows how prompt removal can aid in infection prevention as the risk of developing bacteria in the urine increases to about 100% after 30 days of placement (McNeill, 2017). Maintenance Guidelines

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