Nurses as Frontline Defenders: Pioneering Infection Control in Healthcare Systems

Abstract

Infection control is a critical component of healthcare systems aimed at preventing and managing infections that threaten patient safety and public health. It involves implementing evidence-based practices to reduce the transmission of infectious agents within healthcare settings (Lewis et al., 2022). Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) such as surgical site infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections pose significant challenges, increasing patient morbidity and healthcare costs. Infection control encompasses various measures, including proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), sterilization of medical instruments, and adherence to isolation protocols (Limones et al ., 2020). Nurses, as the largest group of healthcare professionals, play a central role in executing these measures at the bedside. Their consistent presence, vigilance, and proximity to patients enable them to act as frontline defenders in infection prevention (Adeyinka, 2020).