Project: Reducing CAUTIs in Hospitals: a randomized controlled study in three Australian hospitals
Date: Up to date as of August 2018
Research Contact: Prof Brett Mitchell [email protected]

Study overview

Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are largely preventable but common and costly infections. Foundation work indicates that 26% of patients admitted to an Australian hospital receive a urinary catheter, and these infections occur in 1% of hospital patients¹. CAUTIs are associated with higher risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making the treatment of patients difficult and compounding the effects of AMR when treatment is provided.^2,4 AMR is an issue in UTIs.⁵ Evidence has suggested that reducing bacterial colonisation around the urethral area has the potential to reduce CAUTI risk.⁶

Objective One

To evaluate the effectiveness using chlorhexidine in meatal cleaning prior to catheter insertion, in reducing catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria (CA-ASB) and CAUTI.

Objective Two

To evaluate if the intervention is cost-effective.

A stepped wedge randomised controlled clinical trial was undertaken in Canberra, Lismore Base and Sydney Adventists hospitals over a 32-week period. During the control phase 0.9% saline was used for urethral meatal cleaning before catheter insertion, and during the intervention phase chlorhexidine 0.1% was used.

Ethics and trial registration

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry Number, 12617000373370.

This study received ethics approval from Avondale University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (approval number 2017:03), the Australian Capital Territory HREC (approval number ETH.4.17.083) and the Adventist HealthCare Limited Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number 2017-018).

Methods

A stepped wedge randomised controlled clinical trial was undertaken in three Australian hospitals, Canberra and Lismore Base hospitals and Sydney Adventist hospital between August 2017 and March 2018.

The intervention was the use of chlorhexidine (0.1%) solution, compared to normal saline (0.9%) for meatal cleaning prior to catheter insertion. The stepped wedge design allows hospitals to act as their own control.

• The study protocol and detailed methods can be found if you click here

Research Investigators

Why was the study needed?

CAUTIs are associated with increased complications, delays in leaving hospital and increased antibiotic use. Australia has no national initiatives to reduce these infections. The evidence on which solution to use for meatal cleaning, prior to urinary catheter insertion is mixed. There are conflicting recommendations in international guidelines and in clinical practice, which reflect this uncertainty.

Results

A published article in the Lancet Infectious Disease will be published here in mid-April 2019.
A podcast regarding the results is available below for streaming or download.

Download Audio File

An animation regarding the results:

Download video file

Resources and Further Information

Study protocol paper click here

References

1. Gardner A, Mitchell B, Beckingham W, Fasugba O. A point prevalence cross-sectional study of healthcare-associated urinary tract infections in six Australian hospitals. BMJ Open 2014;4
2. Nicolle LE. Catheter associated urinary tract infections. Antimicrobial resistance and infection control 2014;3:23.
3. Mitchell BG, Ferguson JK, Anderson M, Sear J, Barnett A. Length of stay and mortality associated with healthcare-associated urinary tract infections: a multi-state model. J. Hosp. Infect. 2016;93:92-99.
4. World Health Organisation. Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance. Geneva World Health Organisation,; 2014
5. Fasugba O, Mitchell BG, Mnatzaganian G, Das A, Collignon P, Gardner A. Five-Year Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Urinary Escherichia coli at an Australian Tertiary Hospital: Time Series Analyses of Prevalence Data. PLoS One 2016;11:e0164306.
6. Warren JW. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 2001;17:299-303.