External urinary collection devices (EUCDs) may reduce indwelling catheter usage and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). In this retrospective quasi-experimental study, we demonstrated that EUCD implementation in women was associated with significantly decreased indwelling catheter usage and a trend (P = .10) toward decreased CAUTI per 1,000 patient days.

Background: Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea in developed countries, and it has a significant economic impact throughout the world. Early detection of the pathogen and its toxins is critical because early treatment significantly reduces infection-related morbidity, mortality, and medical cost. Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is conducted using the NHSN standardized infection ratio (SIR). This metric allows comparison of a facility’s observed infection rate to a national benchmark. The SIR can be elevated due to both a lack of institutional criteria for stool submission and the use of highly sensitive but poorly specific testing as a standalone test for diagnosis. The SIR can be artificially elevated by inclusion of C difficile carriers rather than infected patients due to inappropriate testing and overly sensitive methods. We aimed to determine the impact of an institutional nursing-driven protocol for stool submission as well as 2-step testing on the SIR. Methods: Starting from the fourth quarter of 2018, we instituted a nursing protocol for initiation of C. difficile testing. If the patient had ≥3 soft, loose, or liquid stools in 24 hours within the first 3 days of admission, they were placed on contact precautions and an unformed stool sample was submitted for C. difficile nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). A positive result prompted further evaluation with a stool enzyme immunoassay toxin test for confirmation of active infection. From hospital day 4 onward, stricter criteria were implemented for testing for C. difficile infection. Data were extrapolated for calculation of a quarterly SIR. This value was then compared to retrospective SIR data from the first quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2018. Results: The quarterly total of hospital-onset C. difficile infections from the first quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2018 ranged from 24 to 39 incidents per quarter. After implementing the nursing-driven protocol and 2-step testing, the quarterly total of hospital onset C. difficile infections decreased to 5–6 per quarter. The SIR prior to initiation ranged from 0.66 to 1.37 and decreased to 0.306–0.386 after the nursing-driven protocol and 2-step testing were implemented. Conclusions: Implementation of both an institutional nursing-driven protocol for stool submission and a 2-step testing protocol reduced the number of quarterly hospital-onset C. difficile events as well as our facility’s quarterly SIR to below the national standard.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Ioana Chirca, University Hospital

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a common hospital-acquired infection (HAI) resulting in excess morbidity, mortality, and cost. Urine management can be a challenging issue, particularly in women, due to limited options for control of urinary incontinence. Issues with urinary leakage and worry for subsequent skin break down often leads to indwelling catheter insertion. In the spring of 2018, our facility implemented a female external urine collection device (EUCD) in efforts to decrease catheter days and to limit CAUTIs. Methods: Retrospective, 32-month (January 2017–August 2019), quasi-experimental, before-and-after study. Catheter use and CAUTI were defined according to CDC NHSN criteria. Poisson regression was used to model the rate of CAUTI (per 1,000 patient days [PD] and per 1,000 catheter days [CD]) comparing the 14 months prior to EUCD introduction with the 14 months after introduction and allowing a 3-month introduction period. Results: The CAUTI rate did not change significantly. The overall CAUTI rate per 1,000 PD decreased slightly from 0.24 to 0.20 (P = 0.44; model risk, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.58–1.26) whereas the rate per 1,000 CD increased slightly 1.5 to 1.6 (P = 0.76; model risk, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.73-–1.56). The CAUTI rate for men increased from 0.09 to 0.11 per 1,000 PD (P = 0.42; model risk, 1.29) and from 0.99 to 1.55 per 1,000 CD (P = 0.17; model risk, 1.56). For women, the rate of CAUTI decreased from 0.15 to 0.09 per 1,000 PD (P = 0.10; model risk, 0.61) and from 2.12 to 1.65 per 1,000 CD (P = 0.38; model risk, 0.38). A significant decrease in catheter days (CD per 1,000 PD; P < .0001) was observed for all hospitalized patients (from 158.56 to 128.3; model risk, 0.81), for men (from 87.06 to 72.15; model risk, 0.83), and for women (from 71.49 to 56.15; model risk, 0.79). Of 2,347 adverse events, 5 (0.2%) involved perineal skin breakdown and redness. Three events were related to malposition of the ECUD or inappropriate level of suction and 1 event was related to latex allergy and EUCD use. Conclusions: The introduction of a EUCD for women was associated with a significant decrease in indwelling catheter usage. A trend toward a decrease in CAUTI per 1,000 PD for women was observed (P = .10). Additional studies on whether the EUCD is associated with changes in UTI rates (both CAUTIs and noncatheter UTIs) as well as cost implications of EUCD are warranted.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None