CatheterAssociated

Catheter-associated is a modifier used in medicine to describe infections or complications linked to the use of medical catheters. It is most often applied to urinary catheters and intravascular catheters, and is a focus of hospital infection control and patient safety programs.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is an infection of the urinary tract that develops in a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter or within a short period after its removal. Diagnosis typically relies on clinical symptoms such as fever, dysuria, urgency, or suprapubic tenderness, together with laboratory evidence of infection. Surveillance definitions by health authorities specify criteria to distinguish CAUTI from bacteriuria alone.

Catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CA-BSI) describes a bloodstream infection in which an intravascular catheter was in place for a sufficient duration and is considered the source of the infection after excluding other organisms. Management requires source control, antimicrobial therapy, and catheter removal or replacement if necessary.

Risk factors include prolonged catheterization, older age, diabetes, critical illness, and prior antibiotic exposure. The risk increases with time the catheter remains in place. CAUTI and CA-BSI are among the most common healthcare-associated infections and contribute to longer hospital stays, higher costs, and increased morbidity.

Prevention strategies emphasize using catheters only when necessary, removing them as soon as they are no longer needed, and adhering to aseptic insertion and maintenance practices. Other measures include closed drainage systems, proper hand hygiene, daily reassessment, and considering alternative methods or antimicrobial-impregnated devices when appropriate.

Accurate surveillance and adherence to guidelines from health authorities such as the CDC or WHO are essential to reduce catheter-associated infections.