Year: 2026 | Month: October | Volume: 16 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 53-61
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20261006
Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections and Bundle Care Compliance: A One-Year Surveillance Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Shaik Naseema1, Anam Pradeep Reddy2, Penmetcha Uma3
1Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, NRI Medical College, Chinakakani, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India,
2Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Mamatha Medical College, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India,
3Head of the Department, Department of Microbiology, NRI Medical College, Chinakakani, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. Shaik Naseema
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Common and preventable catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) increase hospital stays, costs, and patient morbidity. To study the incidence of CAUTI, patient characteristics, microbiological profile, risk factors and compliance to catheter care bundle in an Indian tertiary care hospital over a period of 1 year.
Material and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted from January to December 2025 in a 900 bedded tertiary care teaching hospital in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. All indwelling urinary catheter and laboratory-confirmed CAUTI patients were included. CAUTI rates per 1,000 catheter-days were calculated using the CDC/NHSN definitions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse demographic information, risk factors, microbiology and adherence to catheter care bundle.
Results: Urinary catheterizations were performed on 5,679 patients, for a total of 28,397 catheter days (5.0 days/patient). There were 33 laboratory-confirmed CAUTIs in this group (1.16 per 1000 catheter-days; 95% CI: 0.76–1.56). The mean age was 62.3 years and 54.5% were male. The most common CAUTI risk factors were diabetes (30.3%), multiple comorbidities (24.2%), and postoperative status (18.2%). The most common bacteria causing CAUTI were E. coli (36.4%) and Klebsiella spp. (27.3%). The device utilization ratio (DUR) for urinary catheters was 55.6%. The biggest gap in the insertion bundle was defective documentation (16.7%). The largest maintenance bundle gap was below the bladder position (4.4% catheter days).
Conclusions: Despite quality improvement efforts, CAUTI remains one of the most common nosocomial infections in Indian tertiary care hospitals at 1.16 per 1000 catheter days. Patients over 70 and diabetics are more likely to have CAUTIs. Better documentation, patient education and placement of a drainage bag can reduce rates. Continuous monitoring of preventive programs and trends is needed.
Key words: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection, CAUTI, surveillance, risk factors, microbiology, bundle compliance, India