The Role of Nurses in Preventing Healthcare-associated Infections

Introduction to Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

According to Surveillance of Healthcare-associated Infections (2003), healthcare-associated infections have been defined as those infections that had not been previously diagnosed during admission but only developed during hospitalization of the patient, with a time range consideration of infections that occur 48 to 72 hours after admission and 10 days after discharge. Transmission of infection to the patient or even to the practitioner will only occur in the presence of a specific infectious bacterium and a transmitting agent.

The Role of Nurses in Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections

Numerous studies have been undertaken on this topic simply because nurses are placed in a unique position to have direct contact with patients more often, if not always. Their pivotal role in the care, success, and full recovery of patients has conspicuously highlighted their prominence in the prevention of healthcare infections. Their significance in preventing healthcare infections has been seen through their consistency in conducting audits and control of a decontaminated environment, hand hygiene, behavioral etiquettes and patient education, personal protective equipment, and the leadership role in the health practice.

Nursing’s Role in Quality Improvement and Infection Control

In many hospital domains, every healthcare administrator is entrusted with the responsibility of prevention. Quality improvement initiatives have been speared particularly on healthcare-associated infections. Infection Control Practitioner’s survey calculates and reports the infection rates of certain pathogens within the units (Becker, 2005). To mitigate this, training nurses to take control measures is immediate and effective to make sure the situation is under control. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that all nurses and licensed practitioners undergo training on preventing blood-borne pathogens exposure annually.

Nurses’ Responsibility in Aseptic Care and Infection Prevention

Nurses participate in this role by periodic audit evaluations on safety activities within the ward. The aseptic care gives them an opportunity to mitigate these infections. Through their analysis, nurses will apply evidence-based procedures on patients concerning a certain reaction, and this helps in preventing hospital associated infections. They also ensure that the environment is decontaminated and that all the medical tools and equipment have met the safety standards. This will help regulate the transmission of pathogens.

Contamination and Cross-Transmission of Pathogens in Healthcare Environments

The environment surrounding a patient, in most cases, is contaminated. This happens because of the pathogenic microorganisms that are shed daily from the patient’s body to his or her clothes, bedding,g, and even the floor. This makes almost every surface contaminated with these pathogens. This can lead to cross-transmission of pathogens either from contaminated surfaces or the. Nurses can reduce this through the use of clean and medicated equipment at their disposal and proper disinfection of common tools before use and after use (Child, 2004).

Hand Hygiene as a Key Preventive Measure

Hand hygiene can be viewedas a simple hygiene issue but can lead to hazardous implications. A simple hand wash can help prevent infections, especially when antiseptics are used to clean them. Much attention has been given by nurses concerning the hand hygiene issue, and it has assisted them in preventing the spread of microorganisms, especially through contact with contaminated surfaces. Hands are a viable carrier, and research has shown that once a nurse gets into a patient’s room, the hands are vulnerable to pathogens even without physical contact with the patient (Child, 2004). Nurses occasionally wash their hands to prevent transmission; others use hand gloves in every ward to mitigate the flow of pathogens. Hand washing has been regarded as a must-do healthcare practice by the Joint Commission Infection Control Standard for every nurse and licensed practitioner.

Nurses’ Role in Behavioral Etiquette and Respiratory Pathogen Control

Extensive research done by nurses on behavioral etiquettes, such as cough etiquette, has also been viewed as a struggle towards prevention of the flow of respiratory pathogens that cause influenza. Coughing and sneezing cause the flow of mucous droplets in the air. Contact with the mucous membranes or the droplets in the air within the vicinity will result to infection. Nurses can help in the prevention or stopping of respiratory pathogens flowing in the air by identifying an ailing person and putting him or her under a quarantined safe environment to stop the spread. Coughing etiquette is consistently practiced by the healthcare staff, and they even advise patients on the use of tissues to cover their mouths or noses while sneezing, washing hands after coming in contact with respiratory secretions, using surgical masks to contain serious conditions, primarily when dealing with patients with highly infectious respiratory pathogens.

Nurses as Educators in Infection Prevention

Nurses get so much involved in active campaigns and educative seminars on various ways to prevent infections, not only within the health facilities but also in respective homes. To help patients live a responsible lifestyle, they have been instrumental in giving take-home advice on preventive measures to certain pathogens. Educations on etiquette, maintaining a clean environment, and also on issues related to body cleanliness that will help protect you from pathogens. Currently, nurses have been seen to be at the forefront of educating youths on the use of condoms to practice safe sex. This helps in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections not only in the health sectors but outside the health units.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Preventing Disease Transmission

Nurses also prevent the transmission of diseases through the use of protective equipment while handling patients, such as gloves to administer wounds. Particularly in intravenous therapy, they can protect themselves against infections by using sterile fields, masks, and even gowns. This personal protective equipment used by nurses prevents exposure to contaminated grounds or areas. The gowns are worn to protect the nurse from contaminating his or her clothes with the patient and are immediately removed and cleansed thoroughly by antiseptics to ensure that every breeding microorganism is destroyed. In the presence of an outbreak, they dress in air-tight gowns to help them stay safe and avoid spreading the disease to others. Their keen concern for dressing makes them replace them immediately when loosened or damp.

Nurses’ Leadership Role in Infection Control

Leadership culture, as embraced by nurses, has been seen to be an essential tool in the fight against the spread of pathogens. This involves communal teamwork involving all nurses together with their leaders to maintain healthy standards and ensure that all ethics are followed to the latter (Fraise, 2009). Always, the end justifies the means and if patients are successfully discharged without them being victims of healthcare-associated infections, it proves that all safety standards are upheld and maintained. Health leaders ensure that every nurse is highly educated on health standard issues and how to prevent infections. Nurses dedicate their efforts to making sure that all patients are safe and recover in due time without the possibility of further complications. They strive to minimize the possibility of errors in their nursing activities, which, in turn, minimizes undesired outcomes such as the transmission of microorganisms. The commitment of nurses to the safe passage of patients helps a lot in mitigating this spread. Leadership is vital, especially in the employment of competent nurses who give proper diagnosis results and administer proper treatment to their patients. This also helps in reducing such incidents.

Conclusion

It is true that not all infections can be prevented, but depending on the patient’s susceptibility, nurses have a great responsibility to prevent healthcare-associated infections (Fraise, 2009). Healthcare facilities are filled with different microorganism pathogens that, if not mitigated, will end up bringing complications to every visitor in the facility. Many bacteria are transmitted through contact, and nurses can help prevent this by maintaining a clean environment and using protective gear to prevent exogenous contact with disease-causing pathogens. Health education to patients to make them become aware and take responsibility for their health through making preventive measures their daily routine To help reduce the microbial load, they should ensure proper use of protective gear and wash their hands immediately after hey are done. There is no doubt that nurses’ role in the prevention and mitigation of healthcare-associated infections can not be ignored, and their contributions, once successfully enforced, should be acknowledged and credited.

References

Becker C. (2005) Full disclosure. CDC will give guidelines for reporting infection rates. Modal Health; 35(9):8-9.

Child, A. P. (2004). Keeping patients safe transforms the work environment of nurses. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.

Fraise, A. P. (2009). Ayliffe’s Control of Healthcare-associated Infection: A Practical Handbook. (5. Ed.). London: Hodder Arnold.

Healthcare-associated infections 2011 report to the Washington State Legislature.. (2011). Olympia, Wash.: Washington State Dept. of Health.

Reducing healthcare-associated infections in hospitals in England: report. (2009). London: TSO

Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections. (2003). London: Dept. of Health.

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