A nationwide survey conducted by the University of Michigan Health System and the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System shows few hospitals are aggressively combating the most common infection — catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Results from the survey showed as many as 90 percent of surveyed U.S. hospitals increased use of methods to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia between 2005 and 2009. However, prevention practices for catheter-associated urinary tract infections were regularly used by only a minority of hospitals.
Also, in 2008 CMS stopped paying non-federal hospitals for the additional costs of treating infections, which are considered preventable with the right care.
"The actual impact of the no-payment rule appears limited given the fact that hospitals not affected by the rule change, such as VA hospitals, also increased their use of infection practices," said lead study author Sarah L. Krein, PhD, RN, a VA research scientist and U-M associate professor of general medicine.
Results from the survey showed as many as 90 percent of surveyed U.S. hospitals increased use of methods to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia between 2005 and 2009. However, prevention practices for catheter-associated urinary tract infections were regularly used by only a minority of hospitals.
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Also, in 2008 CMS stopped paying non-federal hospitals for the additional costs of treating infections, which are considered preventable with the right care.
"The actual impact of the no-payment rule appears limited given the fact that hospitals not affected by the rule change, such as VA hospitals, also increased their use of infection practices," said lead study author Sarah L. Krein, PhD, RN, a VA research scientist and U-M associate professor of general medicine.
Related Articles on CAUTI:
Joint Commission Issues Report on Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
10 CDC Recommendations to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
State Report Shows Pennsylvania Hospital Infection Rates Dropped 3.4% in 2010
