European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Indwelling intravascular and urinary catheters are essential components of modern medical care. Unfortunately, indwelling devices significantly increase the risk of iatrogenic infection, particularly in an already fragile patient population. Most nosocomial infections in severely ill patients are associated with the very medical devices that provide life-sustaining care.¹ Indwelling urinary catheterization is the most common risk factor for complicated UTI; such catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI) accounts for 40.0% of all nosocomial infections worldwide and often leads to secondary bloodstream infections.² Though recognition of this risk has led to reductions in insertion or duration of use of indwelling urinary catheters, a sizable number of hospitalized patients still undergo urinary catheterization during their stay. In the United States, the 30 million Foley catheters used annually confer substantial risk for CAUTI. ³