1. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

2. A patient is admitted to the surveillance specialty with a catheter in situ Are they included in CAUTI surveillance?

3. NO With the exception of patients who have a catheter inserted in A&E or theatre prior to being admitted to the specialty

4. A patient is undergoing treatment for a UTI and has a urinary catheter inserted Are they included in the CAUTI surveillance? A patient is undergoing treatment for a UTI and has a urinary catheter inserted Are they included in the CAUTI surveillance?

5. Patients are excluded from CAUTI surveillance if they are undergoing treatment for a UTI at the time the catheter is inserted NO

6. A patient had a catheter removed and 2 days later they develop signs and symptoms for UTI Do they have a CAUTI?

7. YES A UTI is considered to be catheter associated if the patient had a catheter removed within the three days prior to the onset of the UTI

8. A patient is observed in surgical ICU or HDU following surgery and prior to admission to a surgical ward Are they included in CAUTI surveillance?

9. If the ICU/HDUs are considered part of the chosen specialty and the patient population has been defined to include these wards when surveillance starts

10. A patient has a catheter inserted in theatre before transfer to the surveillance specialty Are they included in the CAUTI surveillance?

11. YES Patients who have a catheter inserted in A&E or theatre prior to being admitted to the specialty are included

12. Patient has a catheter inserted on day 2, the catheter is removed on day 5 and the patient is discharged on day 6 What is the reason for ending surveillance?

13. Discharged Surveillance ends: When a CAUTI is diagnosed The catheter is removed & 3 day follow-up The patient is discharged, transferred or died or The 30 day surveillance period ends Whichever is first

14. A patient has a catheter inserted. 5 days later the catheter is removed and immediately replaced Is this considered to be a “new” or “continuous” catheterisation?

15. Any catheter replaced within 24 hours of removal of the previous catheter is a continuous catheterisation Continuous catheterisation If the interval between catheter removal and catheter replacement is more than 24 hours, a new period of catheterisation should be started

16. Following catheter removal, for how many days should the patient be followed up?

17. Unless they are discharged, transferred or die, develop a CAUTI or the 30 day surveillance period ends before the end of the 3 day follow up period 3 days

18. What date should be recorded as the “Date of CAUTI onset”?

19. The day the first positive urine specimen is taken OR The day the physician diagnoses the CAUTI and institutes antibiotics

20. A patient is admitted under “Geriatric Medicine”, however due to bed space they are nursed on the chosen specialty, e.g. “General Medical” Are they included in surveillance?

21. NO Patients not admitted to the chosen specialty but nursed in a ward designated to the chosen specialty are not included in CAUTI surveillance If in doubt, refer to the Consultants specialty e.g. Geriatrician or Medic

22. A patient admitted to the chosen specialty e.g. General Medical is nursed on a ward not allocated to that specialty e.g. Geriatric Medicine. Are they included in surveillance?

23. NO Patients are excluded if they are nursed on wards not allocated to that specialty

24. A patient is admitted to the surveillance specialty and has a catheter inserted on admission (Day 1).The following day (Day 2) this patient presents with a fever, loin tenderness and the physician diagnoses a UTI and prescribes antibiotics Does the patient meet the criteria for a CAUTI?

25. NO The first positive urine specimen must be taken or physician diagnosis of UTI must be more than 48 hours after the catheter was inserted

26. A patient admitted to the chosen specialty e.g. Geriatric Medicine, due to bed space they are transferred to General Medical for 6 hours. They are then transferred back to Geriatric Medicine When does surveillance end?

27. Surveillance ends when the patient is transferred to the General Medical ward. On return to the Geriatric Medical ward the patient is excluded from surveillance as there is a catheter in situ on admission.

28. A patient has a catheter inserted, it is removed 4 hours later Are they included in CAUTI surveillance?

29. NO Patients are excluded if the indwelling catheter is in situ for less than 6 hours

30. A patient has intermittent catheterisation Are they included in surveillance?

31. NO Patients are excluded if the catheter is intermittent

32. A patient is transferred to the surveillance specialty where a catheter is inserted. Transfer notes state that the patient had a catheter in situ previously and it was removed 5 days prior to transfer. Does the patient meet the criteria for a “Previous Period of Catheterisation”

33. YES A patient who has has a previous catheter removed more than 24 hours but less than 7 days before the insertion of the present catheter meets the criteria for “Previous Period of Catheterisation”

34. A patient is admitted under “Geriatric Medicine”, however due to bed space they are nursed on the chosen specialty, e.g. “General Medical” Are they included in the Admission Data?

35. NO Patients who are not from the chosen specialty but are nursed in a ward designated to the chosen specialty are not included in the Admission Data