Effectiveness of Nurse-Driven Protocols in Reducing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common health care-associated infections linked to indwelling urinary catheters. Nurse-driven protocols (NDPs) empower nurses to direct care without physician orders, potentially enhancing patient outcomes and reducing infection rates.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of NDPs for preventing CAUTIs and reducing catheter utilization rates.

METHODS

Databases searched included Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and others. Ten studies involving 27, 965 NDP-treated patients and 30, 230 controls were reviewed, examining catheter utilization rates and CAUTI incidence.

RESULTS

Use of NDPs significantly lowered catheter utilization rates (34.84% vs 49.40%) and CAUTI incidence (2.867% vs 6.503%). Risk ratio analysis revealed a 29.48% decrease in catheter utilization and a 55.91% reduced CAUTI risk with NDP implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

Using NDPs demonstrate superior efficacy in reducing catheter use and CAUTI occurrence compared to traditional methods. Further research is warranted to solidify evidence-based nursing practices in this area.