The Effects of Bundles on Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Background: There are few studies in the literature from developing countries regarding the rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), which is frequently encountered in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the 2-year rates of CAUTI in a PICU where a CAUTI Prevention Bundle was implemented. Design: This was an interventional prospective study. Methods: The study was conducted with 390 patients in the PICU of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Turkey, from July 2013 to July 2015. The patients were selected based on the diagnostic criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: Urinary colonization occurred in 8 (2.2%) patients in the prebundle group and 3 (0.8%) patients in the postbundle group, and contamination occurred in 10 (2.8%) patients in the prebundle group and 6 (1.5%) patients in the postbundle group. The CAUTI incidence and rates were 5.8% and 6.1 per 1000 urinary catheter days and 1.5% and 1.8 per 1000 urinary catheter days prebundle and postbundle, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the prebundle and postbundle CAUTI rates. Conclusion: Our findings support that clinical nurse specialists in developing countries should consider the use of CAUTI bundles to prevent CAUTIs.