Transforming use of two catheters: from accessory to hazard

Abstract

In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Bart J Laan and colleagues 1 Laan BJ Maaskant JM Spijkerman IJ et al. De-implementation strategy to reduce inappropriate use of intravenous and urinary catheters (RICAT): a multicenter, prospective, interrupted time-series study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020; (published online March 6.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30709-1 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar examined the effect of a tailored multifaceted intervention in medical wards in seven hospitals in the Netherlands that focused on reducing inappropriate use of two of the most commonly used medical technologies worldwide: short peripheral intravenous catheters and urinary catheters. These catheters are often inserted as part of routine, efficient evaluation and admission practices for patients presenting with common medical complaints and are frequently used until discharge. The use of these catheters has often required no order from physicians and no communication with patients regarding risks and benefits—in a way that is similar to attaching a hospital identification band to the wrist of a patient as a routine accessory. De-implementation strategy to reduce inappropriate use of intravenous and urinary catheters (RICAT): a multicentre, prospective, interrupted time-series and before and after studyOur de-implementation strategy reduced inappropriate use of short peripheral intravenous catheters in patients who were not in the intensive care unit. The reduction of inappropriate use of urinary catheters was substantial, yet not statistically significant in time-series analysis due to a small sample size. The strategy appears well suited for broad-scale implementation to reduce health care-associated infections. Full-Text PDF