NURSING ASSISTANCE IN HOSPITAL INFECTION CONTROL IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are considered one of the challenges in public health. In the intensive care unit (ICU), patients in critical conditions undergo invasive procedures to improve their clinical status, which increases susceptibility to infections. The ICU has a high rate of infections within the hospital, even with a dedicated multidisciplinary team caring for the patients. Nursing care includes procedures ranging from the insertion of catheters to bed baths, involving direct contact with the patient and increasing the risk of cross-infections. Objective: To understand nursing care in the control of hospital infections in the intensive care unit. Methodology: The study was guided by an integrative literature review, which will be conducted using the following databases: Bdenf, Scielo, and Lilacs; utilizing controlled health descriptors: Intensive Care Unit; Nursing Care; Hospital Infection, also performing cross-referencing with the boolean operator AND. Articles that meet the inclusion criteria will be included: studies addressing the presented topic; full text available in Portuguese and English; published between the years 2019 and 2024; and articles that are duplicates will be excluded. The data will be organized in tables containing the variables Title, Author, Year, Journal, Objective, Methodology, and Results, and subsequently discussed in light of the relevant literature. Given the review nature of the study, approval from the ethics and research committee is not required. Results and discussion: Some failures were identified in the steps preceding the procedures, such as hand hygiene, the use of cell phones in the sector or near the patient, and the handling of non-invasive and invasive devices, among other incomplete steps. Nursing has significant contact with the patient, needing to perform steps of each procedure or care according to protocols; thus, the rate of hospital infections tends to decrease. Final considerations: The studies analyzed demonstrated concern over the high rates of infections in the intensive care unit, with nursing playing an important role in their reduction. The application of bundles and ongoing education through realistic simulations, courses, and quick moments with pamphlets covering various topics such as hand hygiene, performing invasive procedures, bed baths, among other health assistance with correct steps to follow, can lead to a decrease in infection rates.