Healthcare-Associated Infections: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)

Infectious agent:  Healthcare-Associated Infections: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)

 Description of illness:  A urinary catheter is a tube placed in the bladder to drain urine. A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) can occur when bacteria or other germs travel along a urinary catheter, resulting in an infection in the bladder or the kidney.

This disease/condition should be reported through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).