1. “I don’t get calls like that anymore.”
Cheryl Kowalski, RN
Heritage Hall North
Staff development and education / Infection Prevention

2. GOALS
Educated nurses using “Prudent Use of Antibiotics In Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections”
Stopped dipping urine
Initiated the “DELIRIUMS” tool
Initiated dialogue with Medical Director and Nurse Practitioners
Goal: Reduction of total urine cultures per month by 50% over 6 month period

3. RESULTS
Jan 2012 through Oct 2012 total urine cultures per month averaged 27
Nov 2012 through April 2013 total urine cultures per month averaged 15
Total urine cultures per month have decreased by 50%
Antibiotics are not being prescribed prior to culture results
Urine dips are no longer part of our practice

4. PROGRESS Nurses complete SBARs prior to notifying MD of s/s UTI
Nurses assess using the ‘DELIRIUMS” tool
Ongoing dialogue with Regional Medical Director, Facility Medical Director, Nurse Practitioners, Director of Nursing, Nurse Managers and Nurses
Daily infection control surveillance and unit rounds
Infections and clinical changes reviewed daily at morning meeting

5. EDUCATION
DIALOGUE
SURVEILLANCE

6. PLAN
Continued reduction of urine cultures per month via ongoing dialogue with the team to increase the level of awareness of overdiagnosis and over treatment of UTIs and improvement in nursing assessment and reporting.