Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in LTACH
While working as the Quality Manager for a LTACH (Long Term Acute Care Hospital) one of my responsibilities was Infection Control. As with most facilities our highest number of infections were FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infections). There were a number of factors to consider.
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The biggest was NOT getting catheters out as soon as possible. If the doctor doesn't address it then the nurse should ask if there are any reasons the patient still needs the catheter. If not ask for an order to remove it. However, if the foley is needed then it is of the utmost importance that foley care is done at least once per shift.
Our policy was revised to include clear guidelines for care.
Along with q shift peri care, staff was educated on importance of having a leg strap in place below the Y port to prevent tension on it, proper placement of the bag, never opening the closed sterile system and close observation of patient for any symptoms of a UTI. One of the most difficult issues was that many of out patients were placed into Low Boy beds due to high risk for falls. These beds had no place to hang the bag that did not have it touching the floor.
To keep it off the floor it ended up being higher than the bladder.
I called the manufacturer of the beds and the catheters to see if they had any suggestions. They were both completely baffled. I realized it was going to be up to me to figure this one out.
I considered blue pads but felt this would be a fall risk and would easily be kicked aside. I came up with a temporary plan until we could come up with something more permanent.
The foley bag was placed into the small plastic disposable bath tubs. They were less than 50 cents each, much less than the cost to treat an infection. I then set out on my quest to find a fluid impermeable cover for the bags.
Since they would touch the floor no matter where it was placed, the only solution was to protect it from allowing any contamination from the floors. It took a great deal of searching but I finally found just what we needed. The last step was that after each time the bag was emptied the spout was to be cleansed with alcohol wipe then placed back into the holder.
With a clear plan it was now time to not only educate but to get staff "buy in". I asked for volunteers and since the CNA's performed most of the foley care the majority of the team was made up of them with a few LPN's and RN's.
We decided that staff along with myself would police each other. To keep it positive, we decided that when one of the staff observed another correctly performing foley care they were given "tickets" to issue to the person "caught" doing a good job.
Once a staff member acquired a predetermined amount of tickets they were able to turn them in for a small "prize". From start to finish it took about 6 months for our infection rate to drop. We had a Pizza Party to celebrate our accomplishment. Even after we discontinued the prizes staff continued to be vigilent about the foley care and in the end it was the patients who were the real "WINNERS".
