ABSTRACT
Infections and fever in the setting of indwelling urinary tract catheterization have long been recognized and are now known as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) which remain an ongoing challenge and concern. The 2009 Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines define CAUTI as symptomatic bacteriuria, without another infectious source, with a single specimen urine culture growth of 1000 colony forming units of one or more bacteria, in a patient with an indwelling catheter or catheter removal within 48 hours prior to specimen collection. The pathogenesis of CAUTI relates to colonization of the foreign catheter material and the bladder. Numerous approaches to prevent CAUTIs have been studied including improving insertion technique, modifying daily catheter care, stabilizing the catheter position, varying catheter materials, behavioral changes to limit the use or decrease the duration of urethral catheterization, and assessing the need for routine diagnostic urinalysis and urine cultures in catheterized patients.
