Nursing journal, Vol. 31 No. 2, 2026.
Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.11608/sgnj.31.2.9
Contemporary Nursing Approaches to the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Review of Current Evidence-Based Guidelines and Interventions
Lana Cota
; Klinika za infektivne bolesti „Dr. Fran Mihaljević “, Mirogojska cesta 8, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Yazdan Fayyaz
; Médecins du Monde (Liječnici svijeta), Ulica svetog Mateja 123, 10 000 Zagreb, Hrvatska
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* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most significant global public health challenges of the 21st century. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), millions of patients worldwide annually experience adverse events caused by HAIs, resulting in prolonged hospitalization, increased mortality, antimicrobial resistance, and substantial economic burden. Nurses, as the most numerous healthcare providers in direct patient contact, occupy a central position in implementing preventive strategies and reducing HAI incidence.
Aim: This review aimed to systematically analyse contemporary scientific evidence and international guidelines on the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and to present key nursing interventions that contribute to improving patient safety and quality of healthcare.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Hrčak databases was conducted for publications from 2015 to 2026. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A total of 40 relevant studies, systematic reviews, and international organisational guidelines were analysed.
Results: Analysis of the included literature confirms that evidence-based interventions – particularly hand hygiene according to the WHO Five Moments for Hand Hygiene concept, care bundle approaches for CAUTI, CLABSI and VAP prevention, hospital environmental decontamination, structured education and digital surveillance systems – reduce HAI incidence. Nurse adherence to hand hygiene protocols ranges from 38% to 89%, with multimodal educational interventions demonstrating improvements of 20% to 40%.
Conclusion: Nurses have an irreplaceable and strategically defined role in HAI prevention through implementation of clinical protocols, educational activities and supervisory functions. Continuous education, institutional support, application of evidence-based guidelines, and a multidisciplinary approach are prerequisites for effective infection control. Future research should focus on improving adherence, adapting guidelines to local contexts, and evaluating digital solutions in HAI surveillance.
Ključne riječi
healthcare-associated infections; infection prevention; infection control; hand hygiene; patient safety; nursing care
Hrčak ID:
350214
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.8.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *