I have reviewed this guideline and recommend it be read and considered by nurses and physicians in acute and long term care. Comments about the guideline can be submitted to the CDC; the deadline for commens is July 6, 2009.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released for public review a draft of the agency’s Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections 2008, according to a June 3, 2009, Federal Register notice . Intended for use by healthcare administrators and providers who are responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating infection prevention and control programs for healthcare settings, the guideline addresses prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections for patients in need of either short- or long-term urinary catheterization and includes data for indwelling urethral catheterization as well as alternative methods of urinary drainage. In addition, the guideline provides specific recommendations for implementation, performance measurement, and surveillance.