What can patients do to help prevent CAUTI?
Patients with a urinary catheter can take the following precautions to prevent CAUTI:
Understand why the catheter is needed and ask the healthcare provider frequently if the catheter is still needed.
If the patient has a long-term catheter, they must clean their hands before and after touching the catheter.
Check the position of the urine bag; it should always be below the level of the bladder.
Do not tug or pull on the tubing.
Do not twist or kink the catheter tubing.