A safety-focused program for skilled nursing facilities helped reduce the rate of catheter associated urinary tract infections by 54%.

The Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program, known as CUSP, was implemented in more than 400 facilities in 38 states between 2014 and 2016. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-funded project emphasized leadership, communication, teamwork and a culture of safety.

The CUSP program also encourages evidence-based infection prevention practices, such as not ordering urine cultures for the majority of residents who don’t show symptoms.

“This project is an example of translating research into practice using innovative implementation strategies and by empowering front-line teams,” said lead author Lona Mody, M.D.

The University of Michigan-based research team found CUSP helped cut catheter-associated infection rates from 6.4 to 3.3 per 1,000 catheter days of the study period. Orders for urine cultures dropped by 15%.

In addition, 75% of facilities that participated showed a CAUTI reduction rate of at least 40%.