Perception of Nursing Staff in ICU Regarding Measures to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Infections: A Qualitative Approach

Background Hospital-acquired infections are a common problem in Intensive Care Units and are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost of hospitalization. Despite the development of prevention and control strategies, the incidence of hospital-acquired infections remains consistently high in ICUs and is often associated with the practices of healthcare professionals in patient care. Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of ICU nursing staff regarding measures for the prevention of hospital-acquired infections. Methods and materials This is an ethnographic qualitative study. It was performed in the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiac Care Unit of a General Hospital in North Greece. Seventeen nurses recounted their perceptions regarding infection prevention and control through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis using inductive and deductive approaches was conducted. This manuscript adheres to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. Findings The two basic themes that emerged are (1) infection prevention measures in practice, and (2) factors that affect compliance with infection prevention measures. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate the need for training and compliance of ICU nursing staff regarding measures to prevent hospital-acquired infections. There are several barriers that need to be addressed, such as culture, working conditions, and communication problems through documented interventions in the education, working environment, and professional identity of nursing staff.