The role of nursing in prevention and control of hospital acquired infections: a systematic review

Background and Aim : Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections are infections that occur while receiving health care. In hospitals, infected patients are a source of infection transmission to other patients, health care workers, and visitors. Nurses play a crucial role in preventing and controlling transmission of the infection through the application of standard precautions and maintenance of the health care environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nursing in prevention and control of hospital acquired infections.Methods : This article is a systematic review and a comprehensive search of three electronic databases, including Medline, Scopus and Web of Science was completed from ۲۰۱۰ until ۲۰۲۰. The search words was “nosocomial infection” , “HAI” , “nurses” and “health care workers” .۲۳ articles found and ۱۶ articles selected based on compliance with the key words and availability of the full text.Results : Nursing professionals play an important role in the prevention and control of hospital infections since they carry out direct contact with the individual, invasive and potentially contaminated procedures, as well as the manipulation of patient equipment, instruments and medications. Nurses have many tools available to create a safe environment for patients that among others, there are five main areas of nursing practice where they can help and monitor control and prevention of HAIs which are as follows: promotion of hand hygiene, make best use of aseptic techniques, universal precautionary practices, patient’s education and cleaning and disinfection practices.Conclusion : It seems that the observance of health items by nurses has an important role in controlling and preventing nosocomial infections, so teaching these items to nurses during and after nursing education can be important in controlling and preventing nosocomial infections.

کلیدواژه ها:

Nosocomial infection ، HAI ، Nurses