Virtually all healthcare-associated UTIs are caused by instrumentation of the urinary tract, and 12% to 16% of adult hospital inpatients will have an indwelling urinary catheter at some time during their hospitalization. For each day of indwelling urinary catheter use, a patient’s risk of a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) increases 3% to 7%.
Complications associated with CAUTI lead to patient discomfort, prolonged hospital stays, and increased cost and mortality. Each year, more than 13,000 deaths are associated with UTIs.
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*Online Bonus Content: This has not been peer reviewed. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the American Nurses Association, the Editorial Advisory Board members, or the Publisher, Editors and staff of American Nurse Journal.
