A Multidisciplinary Intervention to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections Using Education, Continuum of Care, and Systemwide Buy-In.

Background: In 2012, the Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center intensive care unit (ICU) had a rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) among the highest in Arizona hospitals, with 54 infections reported. To address the high rate of CAUTI in the Osborn campus ICU, the project team participating in the Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC) National Initiative IV joined the CAUTI systemwide oversight team in the ambitious goal to eliminate CAUTI from Scottsdale Healthcare.

Methods: The quality improvement project to eliminate CAUTI took place throughout calendar year 2014 at the Osborn campus and involved the AIAMC project team, the CAUTI systemwide oversight team, and support from the Scottsdale Healthcare information technology team.