A Collaborative Approach Intended to Reduce the Duration of Short Term Urinary Catheters in Adult Patients at a Tertiary Care Medical Center Also Significantly Reduced the Duration of Hospitalization

Authors

Julie T. Joseph, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Electronic address: julie_joseph@nymc.edu.
Sumith S. Roy, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Navid Shams, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY.
Paul Visintainer, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA.
Gary P. Wormser, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY.Follow

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1016/j.ajic.2021.11.032

Journal Title

American Journal of Infection Control

First Page

954

Last Page

959

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Department

Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections are the leading cause of nosocomial infections in the United States. The major contributing factor is the placement of indwelling urinary catheters. METHODS: Following a chart review of adult patients hospitalized at a tertiary care medical center who required the use of a short-term (≤ 2 weeks) indwelling urinary catheter, a collaborative effort was initiated by an Infectious Diseases physician to develop protocols focused on the clinical service involved for the expeditious removal of short-term indwelling urinary catheters. The protocols relied in part on the standards of practice by pertinent medical/surgical subspecialty societies. Usage of urinary catheters and duration of hospitalization following implementation of the protocols was assessed. RESULTS: Based on a multivariate analysis controlling for demographic variables, comorbidities, medical vs surgical service, and indication for the urinary catheterization, the median duration of catheterization was significantly reduced from 6.7 days to 3.6 days after the protocols were initiated (P < .001), and the median duration of hospitalization was significantly reduced from 9.5 days to 5.9 days (P < .001). No patient had to have the urinary catheter reinserted. CONCLUSIONS: Development of collaborative protocols for the removal of short-term indwelling urinary catheters significantly reduced both the duration of catheterization and the duration of hospitalization.

Recommended Citation

Joseph, J. T., Roy, S. S., Shams, N., Visintainer, P., & Wormser, G. P. (2022). A Collaborative Approach Intended to Reduce the Duration of Short Term Urinary Catheters in Adult Patients at a Tertiary Care Medical Center Also Significantly Reduced the Duration of Hospitalization. American Journal of Infection Control, 50 (8), 954-959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2021.11.032

Publisher's Statement

Published in American Journal of Infection Control (Elsevier), 50(8), August 2022, 954-959.