IU Health Bedford and IU Health Bloomington shine with CAUTI success

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) can lead to longer hospital stays, increased patient complications and significantly higher healthcare costs. IU Health Bedford and Bloomington hospitals were recently recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review in their list of hospitals with the lowest CAUTI rates.

“Our care teams and providers remain deeply committed to ensuring that Foley catheters are used appropriately and only when clinically necessary,” says Felicia Stipp, RN, Certified in Infection Control (CIC), Bloomington infection preventionist. “This includes strict adherence to evidence-based criteria for placement and consistent implementation of early removal protocols.”

Bloomington infection preventionist Caroline Tann, MPH, CIC, says, “By reducing unnecessary catheter use, we help advance patients through their plan of care, minimize the risk of infection, and support timely discharges—freeing patients from the added burden of managing a catheter at home.”

Bedford’s last CAUTI event was over seven months ago, and Bloomington’s was more than eight months ago.

“A reduction in CAUTI incidence reflects the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care and highlights effective collaboration among multidisciplinary care teams and the patient,” says Bedford infection preventionist Teresa Mathis, RN CIC. “Frontline team members are committed to delivering exceptional patient care, actively engaging with quality improvement initiatives and patient safety efforts. Their daily contributions make a significant difference in patient outcomes.”

The South Region Infection Prevention team shares that consistent attention to best practices plays a critical role in minimizing infection risk and promoting patient well-being. This includes daily assessments of all indwelling urinary catheters to ensure continued clinical necessity, adherence to safety bundle elements and proper maintenance of Foley catheters.