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Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Publication Info

Article DOI: 10.1086/502291
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/502291
Effect of Education and Performance Feedback on Rates of Catheter‐Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Intensive Care Units in Argentina • 
Victor Daniel Rosenthal , MD, MSc, CIC, Sandra Guzman , RN, ICP and Nasia Safdar , MD
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology , Vol. 25, No. 1 (January 2004), pp. 47-50
Article DOI: 10.1086/502291
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/502291
Original Articles

Effect of Education and Performance Feedback on Rates of Catheter‐Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Intensive Care Units in Argentina

Formats Available in JSTOR: PDF

Abstract(back to top)

OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the effect of education and performance feedback regarding compliance with catheter care and handwashing on rates of catheter‐associated urinary tract infection (UTI) in intensive care units (ICUs).

SETTING. Two level III adult ICUs in a private healthcare facility in Argentina.

PATIENTS. All adult patients admitted to the study units who had a urinary catheter in place for at least 24 hours.

METHODS:.  A prospective, open trial in which rates of catheter‐associated UTI determined during a baseline period of active surveillance without education and performance feedback were compared with rates of catheter‐associated UTI after implementing education and performance feedback.

RESULTS. There were 1,779 catheter‐days during the baseline period and 5,568 catheter‐days during the intervention period. Compliance regarding prevention of compression of the tubing by a leg improved (from 83% to 96%; relative risk [RR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 1.03 to 1.28; P=.01) and so did compliance with handwashing (from 23.1% to 65.2%; RR, 2.82; CI95, 2.49 to 3.20; P < .0001). Catheter‐associated UTI rates decreased significantly from 21.3 to 12.39 per 1,000 catheter‐days (RR, 0.58; CI95, 0.39 to 0.86; P=.006).

CONCLUSION. Implementing education and performance feedback regarding catheter care measures and handwashing compliance was associated with a significant reduction in catheter‐associated UTI rates. Similar programs may help reduce catheter‐associated UTI rates in other Latin American hospitals.

Bibliographic Information(back to top)

  • Effect of Education and Performance Feedback on Rates of Catheter‐Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Intensive Care Units in Argentina
  • Victor Daniel Rosenthal , MD, MSc, CIC, Sandra Guzman , RN, ICP and Nasia Safdar , MD
  • Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
  • Vol. 25, No. 1 (January 2004) (pp. 47-50)

Author Information(back to top)

Victor Daniel Rosenthal , MD, MSc, CIC; Sandra Guzman , RN, ICP; Nasia Safdar , MD

Notes and References(back to top)

This item contains 1 note(s).

Notes

Dr. Rosenthal and Ms. Guzman are from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Colegiales Medical Center, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Safdar is from the Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin.Address reprint requests to Victor Daniel Rosenthal, MD, MSc, CIC, Arengreen 1366, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1405.

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© 2004 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.