from Ken Zangwill, MD, Director, Infection Prevention and Control
This is a reminder of the availability of bladder scanners and to let you know of their impact in preventing catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI).
Scanners are portable ultrasound devices used at the bedside to evaluate bladder volume. They are a useful tool to help prevent unnecessary bladder catheterization. That is, if the catheter is determined to be unnecessary then a CAUTI cannot occur. Beginning October 2015, five scanners were made available. Since then the Department of Infection Prevention and Control has observed a demonstrable decrease in the numbers of CAUTIs.
We will have two more scanners soon. Your use of these devices directly contributes to fewer CAUTIs. Thank you for your thinking of them. They are available from central supply and just require an order from you to have the nurse perform bladder scanning on the patient.
Ken Zangwill, MD
Director, Infection Prevention and Control
Chief, Div of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Professor of Pediatrics
Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA