Nursing staff on a hospital unit are reviewing rates of health care-associated infections (HAI) of the urinary tract. Which nursing action will be most helpful in decreasing the risk for urinary HAI in patients admitted to the hospital?

A. Providing perineal hygiene to patients daily and as needed: Good perineal care helps reduce bacterial colonization in the genital area, but it does not prevent bacteria from entering the bladder when a catheter is present. While important, it is not the primary measure. B. Encouraging adequate oral fluid and nutritional intake: Adequate hydration supports urinary flow, dilutes urine, and may help flush bacteria, but it does not directly address the most common cause of HAIs, which is catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). C. Avoiding unnecessary urinary catheterization: The majority of urinary tract HAIs are linked to indwelling catheters. Minimizing their use, limiting duration, and using alternatives whenever possible are the most effective strategies to reduce infection risk in hospitalized patients. D. Testing urine with a dipstick daily for nitrites: Routine daily dipstick testing does not prevent infection but only detects its presence after it has developed. It is not recommended as a preventive measure and would not reduce the rate of HAIs.