Prevention of nosocomial infections in intensive care unit and nursing practices

• Main Authors: Sevilay Yüceer, Sevil Güler Demir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2009-01-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: Nosocomial infection; intensive care nurse; universal precautions
• Online Access: http://4181.indexcopernicus.com/fulltxt.php?ICID=893551

Nosocomial infections which are considered as the primary indicator of the quality of care in hospitals, cause to prolong hospitalization at intensive care unit and hospital, increase morbidity, mortality, and the cost of treatment. Although only 5-10% of the patients are treated in the intensive care units, 20-25% of all nosocomial infections are seen in these units. Preventing nosocomial infections in intensive care units is a process started at the patient acceptance to unit that requires an interdisciplinary team approach of intensive care staffs’ and Infection Control Committee members.Intensive care nurses who are in constant contact with patients have important responsibilities in preventing nosocomial infections. Intensive care nurses should be aware that the nosocomial infections can be prevented. They should have current knowledge about universal precautions related to prevention and control of infections, which are accepted by the entire world and they reinforce this knowledge by practice and should provide the most effective care to patients.In this article, nursing practices for prevention of nosocomial infections in intensive care units are discussed based on universal precautions.