A new IDSA guideline for the diagnosis, prevention, and management of adults with catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) is now available. The guideline appears in the March 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and can be found online.

The guideline addresses terminology, diagnostic criteria, methods to reduce the risk of CA-UTIs, and management strategies for patients with these infections, both symptomatic and asymptomatic. Recommendations for diagnosis, prevention, and management are provided, including methods to reduce incidence, such as removing catheters as soon as they are no longer needed. A table outlines acceptable indications for using indwelling urinary catheters.

Background information on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of these infections is also provided in the guideline, which is intended for physicians in all medical specialties providing direct patient care, with an emphasis on the care of patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities.

“We hope the guideline will be useful in reducing catheter-associated urinary infections and that it will stimulate dialog about standardizing terminology used in this field,” said Thomas Hooton, MD, FIDSA, lead author of the guideline.

Several performance measures for internal performance improvement are also suggested within the guideline. Institutions should develop a list of appropriate indications for inserting indwelling urinary catheters, educate staff about such indications, and periodically assess adherence to institution-specific guidelines. It is also important for institutions to consider nurse-based or electronic physician reminder systems, in addition to automatic stop-orders to reduce inappropriate urinary catheterization.

The guideline is available online. Other IDSA guidelines also are available on the Standards, Practice Guidelines, and Statements page of our website.

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