Question

The Institute of Healthcare Improvement has developed evidence-based bundles for healthcare providers to implement in effort to prevent catheter acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTI’s). discuss consequences of urinary tract infections and recommendations for prevention and management of CAUTI’s.

Answer 1

Consequences of urinary tract infection:

• The most common complication is recurrent urinary tract infection which is more prevalent in women.
• In the case of pregnant women, it leads to delivering of low- birth weight or premature infants.
• In the case of men, recurrent gonococcal urethritis results in urethral narrowing or urethral stricture.
• If urinary tract infection is left untreated, it may lead to acute or chronic kidney damage or acute or chronic pyelonephritis.
• The worst and the most severe consequence is sepsis, which is life-threatening . It results when the urinary tract infection progresses to kidneys.

Prevention and management of catheter - acquired urinary tract infection:

Prevention:

• Education and training of the healhealth- care providers regarding efficient hand hygiene practices and the techniques of handling indwelling catheter and effective urine collecting system.
• Usage of sterile, closed unobstructed urine drainage with indwelling catheters.

Management :

• Antimicrobial therapy:Depending on gram stain and culture result.