Urinary Tract Infection Surveillance for Use in Health and Social Care Facilities

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) are a patient and resident safety concern in Scotland within hospitals and care home settings for older people.

It has been demonstrated from point prevalence studies that UTI accounts for the highest p​​roportion of all Health Associated Infections (HAI). The population at risk of these infections in all settings are predominantly older people.

A number of risk factors for healthcare associated UTI have been suggested including general debilitation and increased age. It is also well established that the major predisposing factor for healthcare associated UTI is the presence of an indwelling urethral catheter.

Following the development of the Scottish Government’s integrated care agenda and the recognition that this ‘at risk’ population of older people move between health and social care facilities, this UTI surveillance protocol was designed for facilities caring for older people, in acute, non-acute and long term care facilities.

This UTI surveillance protocol has been developed specifically for use in facilities caring for older people, as it is based on definitions specific to this population. Detailed information is only completed for the patients that develop a UTI therefore keeping the resource requirement to a minimum.

For Protocol for Acute Settings see 'Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Surveillance for Acute Settings'.