CATHETER-ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION (CAUTI)

 

CAUTI (CATHETER-ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION)

Definition

A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a UTI that occurs in a patient who had an indwelling urethral urinary catheter in place within the 48hour period before the onset of the UTI.

If the UTI develops in a patient within 48 hours of discharge from a location, indicate the discharging location on the infection report, not the current location of the patient. This is known as the Transfer Rule.

Criteria for CAUTI

1. Criteria 1a

Must meet at least one of the following criteria-

• Patient had an indwelling catheter in place at the time of specimen collection.

          And

• At least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause
• Fever more than 38°C, Suprapubic tenderness or costovertebral angle pain or tenderness

          And

• A positive urine culture of more than 10 colony forming units (cfu) with no more than 2 species of micro-organisms

OR

• Patient had a n indwelling urinary catheter removed within the 48hrs prior to the specimen collection

          And

• At least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause.
• Fever more than 38°C, Urgency, frequency, dysuria, suprapubic tenderness or costovertebral angle pain or tenderness

          And

• A positive urine culture of more than 10 CFUs with no more than 2 species of microorganisms.

 

2. Criteria 2a

Must meet at least one of the following criteria-

• Patient had an indwelling catheter in place at the time of specimen collection.

          And

• Atleast one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause
• Fever more than 38°C,
• Suprapubic tenderness or
• costovertebral angle pain or tenderness

          And

• A positive urinalysis demonstrated by atleast 1 of the following findings

a.     Positive dipstick for leukocyte esterase and /or nitrite.

b.     Pyuria (urine specimen with ≥10 WBCs or  ≥ 2 WBCs high power field of unspun urine)

c.     Micro-organisms seen on Gram Stain of Unspun urine

          And

• A positive urine culture of ≥10³ and < 10⁵ CFU/ml with no more than 2 species of micro-organisms.

OR

• Patient had an indwelling urinary catheter removed within the 48hrs prior to the specimen collection

And

• At least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause.
• Fever more than 38°C,
• Urgency, frequency,
• dysuria,
• suprapubic tenderness or
• costovertebral angle pain or tenderness

And

• A positive urinalysis demonstrated by atleast 1 of the following findings

a.     Positive dipstick for leukocyte esterase and /or nitrite.

b.     Pyuria (urine specimen with ≥ 10 WBC/mm3 or ≥ 3 WBC/high power field of unspun urine)

c.     Micro-organisms seen on Gram Stain of Unspun urine

OR

• A positive urine culture of ≥10³ and < 10⁵ CFU/ml with no more than 2 species of microorganisms.