Description: An estimated 4 million patients per year in the United States have urinary catheters in acute, home and long-term care. Twenty five percent of all hospitalized patients will have a urinary catheter inserted at some point during their hospitalization. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) contribute to greater than 30% of nosocomial hospital infections annually. It has been estimated that each episode of catheter-associated urinary tract infection will add approximately $700.00 to the cost of care. Studies have demonstrated that colonization of the bladder occurs within two to four weeks after catheter insertion and this may lead to urosepsis and ultimately septicemia. Therefore routine use of urinary catheters is discouraged. The Centers for Disease Control released Guidelines for the Prevention of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections in 1981 and these are still considered to be the standard of care. This presentation will discuss these original recommendations and address new technology and research to promote evidence based practice by all practitioners.