To Assess Knowledge and Practice among Nurses Regarding Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

Background:Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a common healthcare-associated infection among patients with indwelling urinary catheters. The role of nursing staff is crucial in preventing these infections through proper knowledge and practices. Objective:To assess the knowledge and practices among nurses regarding the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in a tertiary hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 164 nurses from various departments, including medical, surgical, and gynecological units. Nurses with more than one year of experience were included, while student nurses and head nurses not directly involved in patient care were excluded. Data were collected through a survey assessing knowledge and practices related to CAUTIs. The sample size was determined using Solvin's formula. Ethical approval was obtained, and participants gave informed consent. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 25.0 for descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. Results:The majority of participants were female (85.4%), and most were aged between 31 and 35 years (50%). About 51.2% of the nurses had 6 to 10 years of experience, and 46.2% had received prior information or training on catheter-related urinary tract infections. The majority of participants (92.8%) knew that CAUTIs result from prolonged catheter use, and 95.7% were aware that aseptic technique with sterile equipment is crucial for catheter insertion. However, only 67.4% used a sterile technique for insertion, and 79.3% did not perform daily catheter care. The overall knowledge level was low for 29.3% of participants, moderate for 43.5%, and high for 16.3%, while the practice level was poor for 52.2% and good for 37%. Conclusion:Nurses demonstrated moderate knowledge but poor practices in preventing catheter-related urinary tract infections, indicating the need for targeted interventions and educational programs to bridge the gap and enhance patient care.