Infection Control, Research Paper Example

Abstract

Management of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)

The purpose of this article was to conduct a literature review of recent publications related to management of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.It included researching issues related to diagnosis and preventionof infection. It was discovered from that several guidelines concerning catheter –associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)were released from a number of organizations (Trautner, 2010).

What type of research? This discussion took a qualitative exploratory design.The main goal of qualitative designs is to investigate questions without trying to quantify any data retrieved. In some situations the researcher may even use a theory to support the thesis statement. Importantly, exploratory research techniques often adapt a qualitative design to facilitate explanation of data accessed from literature or surveys (Cohen & Arieli, 2011).

What was the research question(s) or hypothesis? No definite research questions neither hypothesis could have been identified. Hypotheses are expected to guide readers as well the researcher into an in-depth understanding of the issue being investigated. The clue in this article guiding this study pertains to‘focus in recent CAUTI literature is on prevention, often through strategies to minimize urinary catheter use, but very little new evidence is available to guide diagnosis and treatment strategies’(Trautner, 2010, p. 77).

What is the sample, the sample size, and sample attributes? Since the study encompassed a literature review no sample size was reported. All the reader was told that the researchers reviewed literature related to the management of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

In mentioning an exact sample size the researcher would have added a scientific dimension to the investigation because specific criteria would have been established for selecting the studies. Consequently, the reader is left to imagine the validity of findings reported in the review (Freshwater, Sherwood & Drury, 2006).

What was the setting of the study?Research settings refer to the environment in which a research is conducted. Depending on the hypothesis and research questions researcher choose appropriate settings for their investigation. Distinctly, the setting was either a database review of relevant material explaining management of management of catheter-associated urinary tract infections or studies, which explained hospital urinary tract infection interventions. Again there were no precise scientific research methodologies adopted. As such, this study could be classified as expert reporting when the setting is taken into consideration (Freshwater et.al, 2006).

What were the researcher’s findings? These researchers discovered from the literature reviewed that recently there has been increased concerns among health care organizations and providers about prevention of catheter- associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). More importantly there seemed to be proliferated guidelines in the discipline regarding distinct measures to be taken. It was emphasized that recent social changes related to US government hospital reimbursement and public reporting of hospital-acquired infections may influence this development (Griffiths & Fernandez, 2007).

Significantly, the awareness that CAUTI and catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria (CA-ASB) are distinct conditions is increasing, but unnecessary treatment of ASB remains quite prevalent. The focus in recent CAUTI literature is on prevention, often through strategies to minimize urinary catheter use. Very little new evidence is available to guide diagnosis and treatment strategies(Griffiths & Fernandez, 2007).

Please see link to article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2865895/

References

Cohen, N.,& Arieli, T. (2011) Field research in conflict environments: Methodological challenges and snowball sampling. Journal of Peace Research 48 (4), 423–436.

Freshwater, D., Sherwood, G., & Drury, V. (2006) International research collaboration. Issues, benefits and challenges of the global network. Journal of Research in Nursing, 11 (4), 9295–303.

Griffiths, R., &Fernandez, R. (2007). Strategies for the removal of short-term indwelling urethral catheters in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, (2), CD004011.

Trautner, B. (2010). Management of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI). Curr Opin Infect Dis, 23(1), 76–82.