Ms. Carmel Couch1, Mrs. Fiona Hamilton1, Mrs. Kate Mitchell2
1Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Shellharbour, Australia, 2Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, Australia
Biography:
Carmel Couch is a Clinical Nurse Consultant from Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District with over a decade of experience in a variety of settings including Critical Care, Cardiology, Respiratory, Medical, and Surgical nursing.
Carmel is an experienced Clinical Nurse Consultant with the Infection Management and Control Service. She is passionate about educating and empowering nursing staff, with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care and best practice in infection prevention and control.
Abstract:
Background
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District continues to have a higher incidence of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections compared to the state average. Pathology results have shown the need to improve quality indicators for urine specimens.
Method of actions
The project involved a threefold improvement strategy, including a bundle intervention focusing on staff knowledge, appropriate patient urine collection, and the provision of skin wipes.
Staff knowledge of clinical indicators and documentation required for urine cultures was assessed before and after the project began.
The project took place in two hospitals with six specialty wards, including Rehabilitation, Palliative care, Aged care, Medical, and Emergency Medicine. Retrospective analysis of urine culture pathology data from before implementation was compared to the data after.
Results
The project yielded a decrease in contaminated and inappropriate urine cultures, an increase in staff knowledge of clinical indicators for urine collection, and improved documentation practices. Comparative staff surveys showed improved knowledge of necessary documentation, including patient education for urine sample collection.
Conclusion
This project which focused on staff and patient education has improved the quality of urine specimens, the collection methods and the clinical consideration afforded to urine culture ordering. There has been a decrease in pathology specimen burden, advancement of infection control messaging for patients and staff as well as a reduction in waste and costs associated with inappropriate specimen ordering and collection.