On Thursday October 12, 2023, the Infection Prevention and Nursing leadership teams at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital rounded on the nursing units to celebrate achieving one year without a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)! Cupcakes (yellow frosted, of course) were distributed to all and many thanks shared with the teams. The entire hospital has been instrumental in reducing CAUTIs at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.
It starts in the Emergency Department with urinary catheters only being placed when absolutely necessary, then responsibility moves to the inpatient units where daily conversations are held to assess the need for the catheter. Infection Prevention reviews urinalysis and urine culture orders on patients with catheters, ensuring good culture stewardship. Physicians are engaged with the infection prevention and nursing teams in the conversations about catheter and urine culture necessity. This excellent teamwork has led to a reduction in CAUTIs and the achievement of being one-year CAUTI free!