ROLE OF THE NURSES IN PREVENTING SURGICAL INFECTIONS

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, even with technological advances, hospital infections continue to be one of the main causes of death among patients undergoing surgical procedures. Nursing, as a category with the largest number of professionals and responsible for most of the care provided to patients, plays a fundamental role in the control of these hospital infections. Methodology: this is a literature review, guided by the question: “What are the nurses’ conduct in the prevention of surgical infections?”. The bibliographic search was carried out using the BVS through the LILACS, MEDLINE and BDENF databases. The search terms used were the descriptors registered in DeCS: “Nursing Care”, “Operative Site Infection” and “Infection Control”, combined with the Boolean operator “AND”. The inclusion criteria for selecting studies included full texts in Portuguese, English and Spanish, published in the last five years and available online. Monographs, theses and works that did not meet the objectives were excluded. After searching and identifying the articles, their abstracts were analyzed and the data organized into tables for discussion. Results and discussion: Nurses play an essential role in preventing infections in the surgical environment, ensuring patient safety through the adoption of protocols, team supervision and the promotion of humanized practices. The implementation of continuous training and continuing education are essential to minimize risks and ensure adherence to best care practices. In addition, correct attire, hand antisepsis and effective communication among the affected team are essential to reduce complications. Conclusion: Biosafety measures are essential to prevent surgical infections, with nurses acting in surveillance and monitoring. Continuous education of the team and patient awareness strengthen these practices, making collective commitment essential for the safety and quality of care.