Infection Incidence in Invasive Procedures: Evaluating the Impact of Sterile and Clean Techniques
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Authors
Santos, Steven
Date of Issue
2024
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Infection incidence during invasive procedures in modern healthcare poses a pressing concern, necessitating an examination of techniques used to mitigate infection risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in every 31 patients acquires a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) each day, with an estimate of 687,000 yearly in the U.S.. Moreover, among these estimates, roughly 72,000 patients die during their HAI hospitalization each year. In addition to the morbidity rates, HAIs require extended medical interventions, medications and further care resulting in the hospital incurring billions of dollars in excess health care costs. Invasive procedures within the healthcare industry carry a risk for infection, thus the optimal approach to minimize infection necessitates the need for a comprehensive evaluation. Sterile technique involves adherence to aseptic, free from contamination, procedures that aim at eliminating all microorganisms from the procedural environment. In contrast, clean technique is characterized by the prioritization of cleanliness without achieving sterility, or the complete elimination of microorganisms within the procedure. The purpose of this review is to focus on infection incidence and infection control by examining the comparative effectiveness of sterile versus clean technique within the context of patients undergoing invasive procedures. The synthesis of these research findings should drive substantive changes for nursing and other healthcare providers by enhancing patient safety and facilitating optimal infection protocols within the clinical setting.