A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is caused by germs that enter the urinary system through a tube that has been inserted into the bladder to drain urine, called a urinary catheter. These infections affect the bladder and also may affect the kidneys. Urinary catheters are used in almost all hospital patients receiving major surgery and in many other situations. In recent years, up to 560,000 healthcare-associated UTIs have occurred annually.
Goal: The Partnership for Patients estimates that 40 percent of CAUTIs are preventable. The goal set for hospitals is to cut the number of these preventable events in half by 2013. Over three years, this would prevent a total of 185,500 cases of CAUTI.
