Quality RN

[NurseBSN007]

While doing tracer rounds in the OR, we found old normal saline bottles that were used originally for irrigation. When asked about the bottles, we were told that the bottles were used to collect urine from Foley catheters by CRNAs. This brings up some major questions as to whether this is how other places are doing this, and whether this puts a patient at a higher risk for CAUTI? The other question is whether places have been written up for this by CMS or Joint Commission? I am just putting these general questions out there to see what other people think about this situation.

Thanks!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

We use the same thing. Why would it be an increase for CAUTI? We drain the bag into the bottle just the same as the floors drain the bags into the graduate. The bottles are not exposed to blood/body fluids of other patients- they are poured into a basin on the sterile field prior to incision and then stored in a cabinet. They are not used for more than one patient- once the bottle is used, it is disposed of. Never heard of a write up for this. If it had been, we would have been notified to cease and desist the practice immediately.