Strategies for infection control in neonatal intensive care units: an integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17058/reci.v16i.20488Keywords:
Healthcare-Related Infections, Clinical Protocols, Neonatal Intensive Care UnitAbstract
Background and Objective: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) represent a significant challenge to the quality and safety of neonatal care, especially for premature and low birth weight newborns, whose immunological vulnerability and exposure to invasive procedures increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to analyze the main strategies used to control HAIs in NICUs, highlighting their effectiveness and impact on improving neonatal care. Methods: This is an integrative review conducted in the LILACS, SciELO, and PubMed databases, encompassing original articles published between 2019 and March 2025. The articles were selected and organized considering title, authors, country, year of publication, the proposed interventions, and their main results. Conclusion: The findings revealed that adherence to hand hygiene, associated with training and multimodal strategies, represents one of the most effective and lowest-cost measures to prevent HAIs. Implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs and protocols to control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and invasive device-associated infections has demonstrated a significant impact on reducing infection rates and length of stay. Initiatives such as the SAFH protocol and the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) have stood out for improving the safety culture and optimizing neonatal care. The integration of control strategies, continuing education, and interdisciplinary commitment is a key factor to improving care quality and reducing HAIs in NICUs, promoting greater safety and better outcomes for critically ill neonates.
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