multi class comparison

HAI Prevention Bundle Comparison: CAUTI vs CLABSI vs VAP vs SSI

NCLEX questions pair a bundle element with the wrong HAI to see if you bite. Elevating the head of bed prevents VAP, not CAUTI. Chlorhexidine bathing targets CLABSI, not SSI. Mixing up which intervention belongs to which infection means choosing an answer that doesn't protect the client.

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Comparison

Side-by-side4 compared
Comparevs
Dimension
CAUTI
CLABSI
VAP
SSI
Device / source
  • Indwelling urinary catheter
  • Central venous catheter (PICC, tunneled)
  • ET tube + mechanical ventilation
  • Surgical incision
Insertion / setup bundle
  • Aseptic insertion
  • smallest catheter size
  • ★Max sterile barrier + hand hygiene
  • ★Elevate HOB 30–45° continuously
  • ★Prophylactic antibiotic ≤ 60 min pre-incision
Daily maintenance
  • Closed drainage
  • bag below bladder
  • Chlorhexidine site care
  • scrub the hub
  • Sedation vacation
  • oral chlorhexidine care
  • Clip (not shave) hair
  • keep normothermia
Daily necessity / target
  • Daily necessity review — remove ASAP
  • Daily necessity review — remove ASAP
  • Daily SBT
  • extubate as soon as ready
  • Glucose < 180 mg/dL perioperatively
What to assess
  • Urine color/output
  • signs of UTI
  • Site redness/drainage
  • dressing intact
  • Secretions, oral mucosa, circuit condensation
  • Incision approximation, erythema, drainage
Common organisms
  • Gram-neg rods: E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus
  • Coag-neg staph, S. aureus, Candida
  • Pseudomonas, S. aureus, gram-neg enterics
  • S. aureus (including MRSA)
Device / source

CAUTI

  • Indwelling urinary catheter

CLABSI

  • Central venous catheter (PICC, tunneled)
Insertion / setup bundle

CAUTI

  • Aseptic insertion
  • smallest catheter size

CLABSI

  • ★Max sterile barrier + hand hygiene
Daily maintenance

CAUTI

  • Closed drainage
  • bag below bladder

CLABSI

  • Chlorhexidine site care
  • scrub the hub
Daily necessity / target

CAUTI

  • Daily necessity review — remove ASAP

CLABSI

  • Daily necessity review — remove ASAP
What to assess

CAUTI

  • Urine color/output
  • signs of UTI

CLABSI

  • Site redness/drainage
  • dressing intact
Common organisms

CAUTI

  • Gram-neg rods: E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus

CLABSI

  • Coag-neg staph, S. aureus, Candida

★ marks the fact that sets a column apart.

Clinical Pearl

HOB 30° = VAP. CHG bath = CLABSI. Perineal care = CAUTI. Normothermia + glucose = SSI.

Component Topics

CAUTI PreventionCLABSI PreventionSurgical Site Infection PreventionVAP Prevention

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