Prevention Strategies for All Hospital-Onset Urinary Tract Infections: Best Practice Consensus Recommendations
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Hospital-onset urinary tract infections (HOUTIs), including catheter-associated (CAUTI) and non-catheter-associated UTI (non-CAUTI), remain a significant source of morbidity and healthcare burden. While CAUTI prevention strategies are well established, non-CAUTIs lack standardized definitions, surveillance protocols, and targeted interventions. To address this gap, consensus recommendations identifying prevention strategies for HOUTIs in adult patients were developed. Methods: A panel of 17 experts in infectious diseases, infection prevention and control, healthcare epidemiology and quality improvement, clinical microbiology, urology, urogynecology, and nursing, participated in a modified Delphi process. An online anonymized survey based on a systematic literature review was completed, before meeting to determine consensus on HOUTI prevention strategies. A further anonymous online survey was shared to finalize recommendations. Thresholds of ≥15/17 panel members in agreement (≥88%) for strong consensus and ≥13/17 (≥76%) for moderate consensus were prospectively set for all statements. Results: Strong consensus was reached on 37 statements spanning surveillance, intervention selection, strategies and maintenance, related care interventions, specimens and cultures, provider training, and outcome assessment. Key topics-particularly those focused on non-CAUTI HOUTI prevention-were identified as important priorities requiring further exploration and research. Conclusions: These recommendations offer the foundation for a structured, scalable framework to reduce the burden of all HOUTIs, while also defining future research priorities. By harmonizing established CAUTI best practices with existing literature, and bridging current evidence gaps for non-CAUTI prevention and management with expert consensus, these recommendations provide a road map for improved prevention strategies for all HOUTIs.
Source: Open Forum Infectious Diseases
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofag060
Institutions: Harvard University, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, University of Pennsylvania, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,053
Funder: BD
OpenAlex ID: W7128205592