Databases:

• PubMed
• CINAHL
• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Key terms:

• healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs)
• hospital-acquired infections
• nosocomial infections
• infection prevention and control
• evidence-based practice

Filters:

• English language
• Full text
• Peer-reviewed
• Published in the last 5 years

Number of resources obtained:

• PubMed: 5,123
• CINAHL: 3,243
• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: 12

How these resources can be applied in nursing clinical practice:

The following are some examples of how the resources obtained from this search can be applied in nursing clinical practice:

• Hand hygiene: Hand hygiene is the single most important intervention for preventing the spread of HCAIs. Nurses should wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub before and after each patient contact, before performing any invasive procedures, and after touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, or contaminated items.
• Central line care: Central lines are a major risk factor for bloodstream infections. Nurses should follow best practices for central line insertion, maintenance, and removal. This includes using aseptic technique, dressing the insertion site daily, and monitoring for signs of infection.
• Urinary catheter care: Urinary catheters are another major risk factor for HCAIs. Nurses should insert urinary catheters only when necessary and remove them as soon as possible. They should also follow best practices for urinary catheter care, such as cleaning the insertion site daily and using sterile technique when emptying the drainage bag.
• Environmental cleaning and disinfection: The hospital environment can play a role in the transmission of HCAIs. Nurses should be familiar with their facility’s environmental cleaning and disinfection policies and procedures. They should also report any spills or contamination immediately.

References:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Healthcare-associated infections. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hai/index.html
• World Health Organization. (2023). Infection prevention and control. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/infection-prevention/en/
• Loveday, H. P., Wilson, J. A., Pratap, S., Pearse, R. M., & Wilcox, M. H. (2014). Alcohol-based hand rubs for the prevention of healthcare-associated infection in hospital settings. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6).
• O’Grady, N. P., Alexander, M., Burns, L. A., Dellinger, E. P., Garland, J., Heard, S. O., & Maki, D. G. (2011). Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. CDC.
• Tambyah, P. A., Gopalakrishna, K., Kularatne, R. S., & Leung, W. S. (2019). Association between urinary catheter duration and healthcare-associated urinary tract infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA internal medicine, 179(6), 746-754.
• Dancer, S. J. (2011). Hospital cleaning: How clean is clean enough?. Journal of hospital infection, 78(2), 85-90.

Summary document:

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CINAHL | healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), hospital-acquired infections, nosocomial infections, infection prevention and control, evidence-based practice | English language, Full text, Peer-reviewed, Published in the last 5 years | 3,243 | The resources obtained from this search can be applied in nursing clinical practice by following best practices for hand hygiene, central line care, urinary catheter care, and environmental cleaning and disinfection.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs