What is the key intervention to prevent hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)?

Removing the catheter is recognized as a key intervention to prevent hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Catheters provide a direct pathway for bacteria to enter the urinary tract, which increases the risk of infection. Frequent assessments should be made to determine if catheterization is still necessary. If the catheter is no longer needed, it should be removed promptly. This minimizes the duration of catheterization, thereby significantly reducing the risk of developing a CAUTI.

The other options may contribute to infection prevention but are not as critical as the removal of the catheter itself. Keeping the drainage bag off the floor helps reduce the risk of contamination, while washing hands before and after assessing the catheter is vital for maintaining hygiene. Daily cleansing of the urinary meatus is important for maintaining local care; however, none of these measures can substitute the importance of minimizing the use of catheters. Thus, timely removal is the most effective strategy in preventing CAUTIs.