CAUTIs: Unproven practices not advised
The recently published compendium guidelines on preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections include approaches that should not be considered a routine part of CAUTI prevention:
1. Do not routinely use antimicrobial/antiseptic-impregnated catheters (quality of evidence: I).
2. Do not screen for asymptomatic bacteriuria in catheterized patients (quality of evidence: II).
3. Do not treat asymptomatic bacteriuria in catheterized patients except before invasive urologic procedures (quality of evidence: I).
4. Avoid catheter irrigation (quality of evidence: II).
a. Do not perform continuous irrigation of the bladder with antimicrobials as a routine infection prevention measure.
b. If continuous irrigation is being used to prevent obstruction, maintain a closed system.
5. Do not use systemic antimicrobials routinely as prophylaxis (quality of evidence: III).
6. Do not change catheters routinely (quality of evidence: III)
- Lo E, Nicolle LE, Coffin SE, et al. Strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update. Infect Cont Hosp Epi 2014;35(5):464-479.
