717 FLUSHI- AN INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE CATHETER CARE AND REDUCE UNNECESSARY CATHETERISATION DAYS

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) are a common and preventable healthcare-associated infection that cost NHS hospitals an estimated £54.4 M per year. The risk of developing a CAUTI is intrinsically linked to the duration of an indwelling catheter. Our project was created in response to a clinical incident where a patient was mislabelled as having a long-term catheter (LTC) and discharged, subsequently enduring several unnecessary catheter days. We have created interventions with the primary aim of reducing the number of Short-term Catheters (STC) mislabelled as LTCs by 100%, and secondary aims of reducing the number of unnecessary catheter days, increasing the number of discharge summaries with correct catheter information and reducing the number of inappropriate catheterisations. Method All patients admitted to one Care of the Elderly from August 2020 with a new STC were included in this project. We designed the FLUSHI sticker as a tool for recording catheter care which specifically delineated between LTCs and STCs. In addition, it allowed space for recording essential catheter care and simplified the approach to indications for ongoing catheters. This was implemented alongside a Catheter Training Programme. Finally, specific catheter prompts were integrated into the discharge summary software to encourage the correct recording of catheter care on discharge. These data were compared with pre-intervention data to assess progression towards our aims. Results Provisional results have demonstrated a significant reduction in the proportion of patients with an STC mislabelled as having an LTC. In addition, we have seen a significant reduction in the number of unnecessary catheter days within inpatients. Conclusions The FLUSHI sticker is a valid intervention that allows for the delineation between STCs and LTCs, which in turn has reduced unnecessary catheter days, decreased the number of patients being mislabelled as having an LTC, and improved catheter communication on discharge.