Rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) dropped 54% across more than 400 nursing homes that participated in an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-funded patient safety project.

The safety project adapted AHRQ’s Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) for use in long-term care facilities. Previous AHRQ efforts to implement CUSP and other safety programs in hospitals have led to significant reductions in CAUTIs and bloodstream infections.

As part of the project to help doctors, nurses, and other leaders prevent CAUTIs in nursing homes, AHRQ has released a Toolkit To Reduce CAUTIs and Other HAIs in Long-Term Care Facilities.

For more information about the reduction of CAUTIs in nursing homes, access the study abstract or AHRQ’s press release.