Prevention of Catheter associated Urinary Tract Infections

- Glossary

· Catheter: A hollow flexible tube that is inserted into a body organ.
· Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI): The presence of symptoms or signs attributable to microorganisms that have invaded the urinary tract, where the patient has, or has recently had a urinary catheter.
· Closed continuous bladder irrigation:  The infusion of sterile fluid into the bladder, usually using a closed triple lumen catheter. One lumen is used to drain urine, another is used to inflate the catheter balloon and the third is used to infuse the sterile irrigation fluid.
· Closed drainage system: The indwelling catheter is attached to a urine drainage bag. The drainage bag can be attached aseptically at insertion, or the catheter and drainage bag are supplied as one unit from the manufacturer (pre-connected).
· Indwelling Urinary Catheterization (IUC): The insertion of a catheter into the bladder, that remains in situ to allow continuous drainage of urine. Short-term: Catheter remains in situ for ≤ 28 days. Long-term: Catheter remains in situ for > 28 days.
· Intermittent catheterization: The periodic insertion of a catheter into the bladder and its immediate removal when the bladder is drained.
· Suprapubic catheterization: Catheter inserted into the bladder via the abdominal wall.