Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection: An Update Based on Recent Guidelines

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) remain among the most prevalent healthcare-associated infections worldwide, despite being largely preventable.This review summarizes key advances in CAUTI prevention reported in recent years, with a particular focus on prevention strategies, urine culture stewardship, and performance assessment, drawing on three major guidelines updated between 2022 and 2025: the SHEA/IDSA/APIC 2022 Compendium Update, the ISID 2024 Position Paper, and the APIC 2025 Implementation Guide.This review highlights the following key developments: (1) an updated "Life Cycle of the Urinary Catheter" conceptual model that places catheter avoidance (Step 0) at the forefront of prevention;(2) the elevation of urine culture stewardship to an essential prevention practice; and (3) a shift from simple CAUTI rates toward risk-adjusted performance metrics, including the standardized infection ratio and standardized utilization ratio.Furthermore, this review addresses the broadened recognition of catheter-related outcomes beyond infection and the practical implementation framework proposed by APIC 2025.Korean national surveillance data from the Korean National Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance System intensive care unit module and domestic studies were incorporated where relevant.This review aimed to provide infection preventionists, clinicians, and quality improvement professionals with a concise, practice-oriented update on the current state of CAUTI prevention.