Implementing a national program to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection: a quality improvement collaboration of state hospital associations, academic medical centers, professional societies, and governmental agencies.
Fakih MG, George C, Edson B, et al. Implementing a national program to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection: a quality improvement collaboration of state hospital associations, academic medical centers, professional societies, and governmental agencies. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2013;34(10):1048-54. doi:10.1086/673149.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common, reasonably preventable sources of patient harm. AHRQ funded the national On the CUSP: Stop CAUTI project, with the goal of reducing CAUTIs in participating hospitals by 25%. This article describes the substantial efforts of this collaborative in engaging states and hospitals to successfully implement interventions that reduce catheter use and associated infections. More than 800 hospitals participated. The authors suggest that this experience may serve as a model for other large, national improvement efforts to address hospital-acquired conditions. A prior AHRQ WebM&M interview with Dr. Sanjay Saint, the senior author of this article, discussed CAUTI prevention.