<p>Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Narrative Overview</p>

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major source of morbidity and mortality and are the second most prevalent cause of death. Furthermore, it has been reported that for every one-hundred patients admitted to hospital, seven patients in high-income economies and ten in emerging and low-income economies acquire at least one type of HCAI. Currently, almost all pathogenic microorganisms have developed antimicrobial resistance, and few new antimicrobials are being developed and brought to market. The literature search for this narrative review was performed by searching bibliographic databases (including Google Scholar and PubMed) using the search terms: "Strategies," "Prevention," and "Healthcare-Associated Infections," followed by snowballing references cited by critical articles. We found that although hand hygiene is a centuries-old concept, it is still the primary strategy used around the world to prevent HCAIs. It forms one of a bundle of approaches used to clean and maintain a safe hospital environment and to stop the transmission of contagious and infectious microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant microbes. Finally, antibiotic stewardship also has a crucial role in reducing the impact of HCAIs through conserving currently available antimicrobials.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance and Protecting Global Public Health

“…Infection prevention and control, antimicrobial surveillance, and antimicrobial stewardship are believed to be the principal strategies for local, national, and international systems to prevent the development of AMR and reduce avoidable healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). 79 , 243 , 254 Public health professionals advocate ways to reduce pointless prescriptions to evade the onslaught of AMR. This becomes evident when there are high levels of antimicrobial use among COVID-19 patients, highlighting the necessity to institute stewardship agendas.…”

Incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and the adherence to the HAIs’ prevention strategies in a military hospital in Alkharj

“…It has been reported that for every one-hundred patients admitted to hospital, seven patients in high-income economies and ten in emerging and low-income economies acquire at least one type of HAI ( Haque et al, 2020 , Danasekaran et al, 2014 , Khan et al, 2017a , Khan et al, 2017b , Haque et al, 2018 , Klevens et al, 2007 , WHO, 2016 ). In the United States at any one time, 4 % of the hospitalized patients are affected by an HAI ( Magill et al, 2014 ).…”

Predictors of preventive behavior of nosocomial infections in nursing staff: a structural equation model based on the social cognitive theory

“…The prevalence of these infections in underdeveloped countries is about three times higher than in developed countries [ 3 ]. In these countries, this rate varies between 5.7–19.1% [ 4 ]. In Iran, most of these infections occur in intensive care units and surgical wards [ 5 ].…”