Assessment tool reduces UTI rates across surgical, nonsurgical departments

Editor's Note

A program for analyzing processes associated with catheter placement and removal for surgical patients decreased urinary tract infections (UTIs) for all hospitalized patients in this study presented at the 2016 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Conference in San Diego.

The STOP UTI quality assessment tool evaluated four categories of catheter management processes and screening for infection:

• Sterile placement
• Timing of removal
• Optimal positioning
• Proper sampling.

The assessment tool identified a subset of processes that could be contributing to UTIs. A subsequent targeted quality improvement program reduced the infection rate by 66% within 18 months.

In total, the infection rate for surgical patients has fallen from 2.9% to 0.46%. Nonsurgical UTI rates have dropped by half.

NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SAN DIEGO (Monday, July 18, 2016, 3:30 pm PDT): A systematic program for analyzing processes associated with catheter placement and removal for surgical patients decreased urinary tract infections (UTI) for all hospitalized patients.