How is your project meaningful to your organization and the people served by your organization?
My project is meaningful to the healthcare organization and the patients for several reasons. First CAUTIs are a critical concern in that they have resulted in increased healthcare costs, longer hospital stays and readmissions by patients, and increased mortality and morbidity rates. As a result, this project is helpful to the care providers to determine ways that they can prioritize care in their bid to prevent CAUTIs. The project is also meaningful to care providers, in that it provides information such as proper sterilization, effective application of antibodies, and proper hand hygiene, thus assisting the caregivers in intensively reducing the risk of CAUTIs infections. It is beneficial to the patients in that they can cut healthcare costs, have a speedy recovery and helps them in advocacy and their family members.
How often do CAUTIs Occur?
CAUTIs occur majorly when the Urinary tract is impacted by a bacterium that enters it through the catheter. However, the frequencies of these infections vary according to certain factors, including the type of catheter used by the patient, the period during which the catheter is used, and other underlying issues from the patients. As per the research, 25% of the patients, more so those with indwelling Catheters, are likely to suffer from CAUTIS. Further, more research indicates that the condition may escalate when the patients use the urinary catheters for a long time and should they fail to adhere to routine hygiene practices.
What current data do you have that indicates or signals a problem?
CAUTIs pose a greater problem, more so in healthcare settings. Recent research studies indicate that catheter-associated urinary tract infections are responsible for around 40% of most infections experienced by patients. In 2019, the Centers for disease control indicated that of 25% of patients with urinary catheters, 70% of them must at some point develop CAUTIs. There are also greater consequences for patients with CAUTIS, such as severe sepsis and death.
How far will you progress in solving this problem in six-month time?
In six months, I will have gone far regarding solving the CAUTIS problem. First, by conducting intensive research studies using the most current medical technologies and working collaboratively with other medical professionals, we shall have determined in greater depth the root cause and prevention mechanism for CAUTIs. We shall also have discovered the most beneficial medications for these conditions, proper prevention techniques, and screening techniques to ensure that infections are always treated on time.
What is known in the literature about CAUTIs
CAUTIs are a common problem that impacts mostly patients who have indwelling catheters. According to the literature, the rate of CAUTIs is comparatively high, ranging up to 25% and resulting in intensive mortality and morbidity rates (Rinke et al.,2020). Major progress has been made in determining the causative agents such as prolonged catheterization, older age, some underlying medical issues and female gender. Antimicrobial prophylaxis has always been used to reduce the rate of CAUTIs.
Who are you considering for your inter-professional team, and why are they selected?
The first group of people that I consider for inter-professional teams for CAUTIs research are pharmacists, doctors and nurses. This is because they have intensive know-how regarding the patients and could also provide important insights on how we can use technology to enhance patient outcomes.
I can also include technology specialists to be part of my team. This is because they can help with technical expertise, such as developing and implementing a good system for CAUTIs. These groups are also important in determining when the system is secure so that we can consider and meet the regulatory requirements in place.
What you will do as a leader of the team, such as convening and facilitating meetings, setting an agenda and assigning meetings?
As a leader of the team, I will ensure that all people, such as important stakeholders, are in time invited to the convention, such as the doctors, nurses and technology specialists. Secondly, I have to structure the meeting expectations and objectives by outlining what we ought to accomplish and indicating the timelines for the same. Thirdly I will ensure communication is well facilitated to enhance collaboration between participants. Lastly, I must ensure that every matter discussed in the meeting is well recorded and informed to the stakeholders.

Reference
Rinke, M. L., Oyeku, S. O., Heo, M., Saiman, L., Zachariah, P., Rosenberg, R. E., … & Bundy, D. G. (2020). Pediatric ambulatory catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs): Incidence, risk factors, and patient outcomes. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 41(8), 891-899.