Prevalence of catheter associated Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in hospitalized patient in Karachi

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a prevalent healthcare-associated infection, accounting for significant morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Method: This is a cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with UTI associated with catheter use. The sample was collected from November 2023 to June 2024, consisting of 200 patients admitted to the surgical, medical, and trauma wards of tertiary hospitals in Karachi, namely Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi and Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. Data is analyzed using SPSS Version 22 and P-value of 0.05 considered significant. Result: The majority of respondents (59.5%) had their catheters changed since insertion, predominantly by trained nurses (93.0%). There were notable associations with underlying conditions such as hypertension (56.5%) and diabetes (44.5%). Gender differences were significant, with females leading in medical cases and males in surgical and trauma cases (p-value 0.017). Age-related trends showed the 55+ age group dominated medical cases, while surgical and trauma cases varied by age group. There was a significant relationship between bleeding during catheterization and UTI (p-value: 0.000). Conclusion: The study revealed a minimal incidence of CAUTI in Karachi's tertiary care hospitals, indicating effective practices. However, further research is needed to explore the potential risk factors identified, such as female gender and comorbidities, to develop targeted interventions for reducing CAUTI incidence and improving patient outcomes.