Identification of the impact of healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are those that develop in hospitalized patients or individuals treated in healthcare facilities, in whom the infection was neither present nor in incubation at the time of admission. This study aimed to identify the impact of HAIs in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). A qualitative approach was employed through a review of scientific articles published in indexed journals from 2018 to 2023. The theoretical methods included Historical-Logical, Inductive-Deductive, Analytical-Synthetic, and Systemic approaches, with documentary analysis as the main empirical method. The literature selection included publications from databases such as ClinicalKey, Manual Moderno, Eureka, Elibro, Ebooks, and Amolca. Results indicate that major predisposing factors include advanced age, immunocompromised status at admission, and the performance of invasive procedures such as surgeries, assisted ventilation, and venous catheter placement. Additionally, the need for enteral nutrition, stem cell transplants, and hemodialysis further increases the risk of HAIs. Prolonged hospital stays due to these infections lead to higher treatment costs and productivity losses. It is concluded that HAIs in ICUs significantly impact morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, highlighting the importance of implementing effective prevention and control strategies in critical care settings.