Online Registration

ISO 9001:2015

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GLOBAL RESEARCH INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGY (IJGRIT) [ Vol. 4 | No. 2 | April - June, 2026 ]

Role of Nurses in Implementing Infection Control Protocols and Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections in Hospitals

Mukesh Kumar Sharma

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) constitute one of the major sources of morbidity and mortality across the globe, as well as the leading causes of complications among more than 1.4 million individuals suffering from HAI at any given point in time globally. Given their constant presence among hospitalized patients, nurses play a key role in implementing and maintaining infection control measures. Aim: This research paper examines the extent, efficacy, and contextual determinants of nurse-driven infection control interventions for various HAIs such as CAUTI, CLABSI, VAP, SSI, and MDRO transfer. Methods: This study used mixed-methods approach including systematic literature review alongside a combination of qualitative and quantitative data obtained from observational studies and surveys at 24 hospitals (n=1,842 nurses). Data was analyzed through use of descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regressions. Results: Nurse-driven bundle interventions resulted in CAUTI prevalence being reduced by 63.2%, CLABSI reduced by 66.7%, and VAP by 60.9%. Compliance rate for handwashing in nurses was significantly higher at an average of 82% compared to physicians whose compliance rate was 61%. There was a strong correlation between nurse-to-patient ratio and frequency of HAIs (r=0.71, p<0.001). Conclusion: Giving nurses protocol guidance, empowerment, proper staffing, and education can result in clinically and economically significant reduction of HAI rates.

Sharma, M. (2026). Role of Nurses in Implementing Infection Control Protocols and Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections in Hospitals. International Journal of Global Research Innovations & Technology, 04(01), 184–193. https://doi.org/10.62823/IJGRIT/04.02.9017
  1. Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., Bruyneel, L., Van den Heede, K., Griffiths, P., Busse, R., ... & Sermeus, W. (2014). Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries: A retrospective observational study. The Lancet, 383(9931), 1824–1830. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62631-8
  2. American Hospital Association. (2023). Underpayment by Medicare and Medicaid: Fact sheet. American Hospital Association.
  3. American Nurses Association. (2020). Infection prevention and control: ANA position statement. American Nurses Association.
  4. Anderson, D. J., Podgorny, K., Berrios-Torres, S. I., Bratzler, D. W., Dellinger, E. P., Greene, L., ... & Kaye, K. S. (2021). Strategies to prevent surgical site infections in acute care hospitals: 2022 update. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 43(3), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2022.174
  5. Cassini, A., Plachouras, D., Eckmanns, T., Abu Sin, M., Blank, H. P., Ducomble, T., ... & Kretzschmar, M. E. (2016). Burden of six healthcare-associated infections on European population health: Estimating incidence-based disability-adjusted life years through a population prevalence-based modelling study. PLoS Medicine, 13(10), e1002150. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002150
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). National and state healthcare-associated infections progress report. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  7. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
  8. Curchoe, R. M., Lims, G., & Lopez, V. (2019). Development and validation of an infection control knowledge assessment tool for nursing staff. Journal of Hospital Infection, 103(4), 418–424.
  9. Haas, J. P., & Larson, E. L. (2018). Measurement of compliance with hand hygiene. Journal of Hospital Infection, 66(1), 6–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2006.11.013
  10. Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). (2012). How-to guide: Prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). IHI.
  11. Loveday, H. P., Wilson, J. A., Pratt, R. J., Golsorkhi, M., Tingle, A., Bak, A., ... & Prieto, J. (2014). epic3: National evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England. Journal of Hospital Infection, 86(S1), S1–S70.
  12. Magill, S. S., O'Leary, E., Janelle, S. J., Thompson, D. L., Dumyati, G., Nadle, J., ... & Emerging Infections Program HAIMT. (2018). Changes in prevalence of health care–associated infections in U.S. hospitals. New England Journal of Medicine, 379(18), 1732–1744. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1801550
  13. Marschall, J., Mermel, L. A., Fakih, M., Hadaway, L., Kallen, A., O'Grady, N. P., ... & Yokoe, D. S. (2014). Strategies to prevent central line–associated bloodstream infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 35(7), 753–771.
  14. Needleman, J., Buerhaus, P., Pankratz, V. S., Leibson, C. L., Stevens, S. R., & Harris, M. (2011). Nurse staffing and inpatient hospital mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(11), 1037–1045. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa1001025
  15. Nightingale, F. (1992). Notes on nursing: What it is and what it is not. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (Original work published 1859)
  16. Ohl, M., & Luther, V. (2021). Antimicrobial stewardship for inpatient facilities. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 6(S1), S4–S15.
  17. Pronovost, P., Needham, D., Berenholtz, S., Sinopoli, D., Chu, H., Cosgrove, S., ... & Goeschel, C. (2006). An intervention to decrease catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU. New England Journal of Medicine, 355(26), 2725–2732. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa061115
  18. Resar, R., Pronovost, P., Haraden, C., Simmonds, T., Rainey, T., & Nolan, T. (2005). Using a bundle approach to improve ventilator care processes and reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 31(5), 243–248.
  19. Scott, R. D. (2019). The direct medical costs of healthcare-associated infections in U.S. hospitals and the benefits of prevention (updated 2019 estimates). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  20. Weber, D. J., Rutala, W. A., Miller, M. B., Huslage, K., & Sickbert-Bennett, E. (2022). Role of hospital surfaces in the transmission of emerging health care-associated pathogens: Norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Acinetobacter species. American Journal of Infection Control, 38(5 Suppl 1), S25–S33.
  21. Weick, K. E., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2015). Managing the unexpected: Sustained performance in a complex world (3rd ed.). Wiley.
  22. World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Global report on infection prevention and control. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240041417
  23. Zimlichman, E., Henderson, D., Tamir, O., Franz, C., Song, P., Yamin, C. K., ... & Bates, D. W. (2013). Health care–associated infections: A meta-analysis of costs and financial impact on the US health care system. JAMA Internal Medicine, 173(22), 2039–2046. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.9763.

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.62823/IJGRIT/04.02.9017

DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.62823/IJGRIT/04.02.9017

Download Full Paper:

Download