genitourinary disorders
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections
Prevention of Catheter Associated UTIs
The most effective preventive measures are avoiding catheterization and removing catheters as soon as possible. Optimizing aseptic technique and maintaining a closed drainage system also reduce risk. How often and even whether to routinely change indwelling catheters is unknown. Intermittent catheterization carries less risk than use of an indwelling catheter and should be used instead whenever feasible. Antibiotic prophylaxis and antibiotic-coated catheters are no longer recommended for patients who require long-term indwelling catheters. UTIs are the most common type of health care–associated infection reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), and strategies to reduce them are a focus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( Prevention reference ). 1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Accessed November 2, 2023. 