A Chlorhexidine Gluconate Protocol to Decrease Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: A Quality Improvement Project

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) lead to higher health care costs and adverse patient outcomes. Local Problem: A Midwestern acute care hospital saw an increase in CAUTI rates from July to December 2022. Methods: Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles guided this quality improvement project. Interventions: Staff education and coaching facilitated a change from daily bathing and urinary catheter care using soap and water to using chlorhexidine gluconate wipes for all adult patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Results: This change led to a substantial 81.1% reduction in the CAUTI rate, sustained over 24 months, decreasing from an average rate of 2.12 to 0.40. Conclusion: Implementing a standardized chlorhexidine gluconate bathing and catheter care protocol significantly reduced CAUTI rates, suggesting it is an effective strategy for minimizing CAUTI risk in acute care settings.