Which of the following is a systemic symptom of CAUTI?

Which of the following is a systemic symptom of CAUTI?

• A. Catheter-Specific Urinary Spasm
• B. Suprapubic Tenderness
• C. Cloudy Urine
• D. Fever

Answer: (D)

In CAUTI, systemic symptoms point to infection affecting more than just the urinary tract. Fever is the classic systemic sign, reflecting the body's overall inflammatory response and possible progression to bacteremia or sepsis when a catheter-related infection spreads beyond the bladder. Catheter-related urinary spasm and suprapubic tenderness are local signs caused by irritation from the catheter or bladder inflammation, not widespread body involvement. Cloudy urine indicates infection within the urinary tract itself but does not by itself prove systemic involvement. So fever best represents a systemic symptom in CAUTI, though remember that in some patients (like the elderly) fever may be absent even with infection.

In CAUTI, systemic symptoms point to infection affecting more than just the urinary tract. Fever is the classic systemic sign, reflecting the body's overall inflammatory response and possible progression to bacteremia or sepsis when a catheter-related infection spreads beyond the bladder.

Catheter-related urinary spasm and suprapubic tenderness are local signs caused by irritation from the catheter or bladder inflammation, not widespread body involvement. Cloudy urine indicates infection within the urinary tract itself but does not by itself prove systemic involvement.

So fever best represents a systemic symptom in CAUTI, though remember that in some patients (like the elderly) fever may be absent even with infection.