The role of primary care in the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections

• Published in: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 1137 - 1144
• Main Authors: Padoveze, Maria Clara, Figueiredo, Rosely Moralez de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem 01-12-2014; SciELO
• Subjects: Atención Primaria de Salud; Community Health Nursing; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Enfermería en salud comunitaria; Humans; Infección hospitalaria; Modelos teóricos; Models, Theoretical; NURSING; Patient Safety; Primary Health Care; Seguridad del paciente; Enfermería en salud comunitaria; Segurança do paciente; Infección hospitalaria; Models theoretical; Infecção hospitalar; Seguridad del paciente; Atención Primaria de Salud; Patient safety; Enfermagem em saúde comunitária; Cross infection; Primary Health Care; Community health nursing; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Modelos teóricos
• ISSN: 0080-6234; 1980-220X; 0080-6234
• DOI: 10.1590/S0080-623420140000700023

Little research has been conducted to date on the role of primary health care (PHC) in the prevention of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). The present article is a theoretical study of the principle of primum non nocere and aims to promote reflection on the role of PHC in HCAI prevention with emphasis on practical recommendations. The indirect and direct roles of PHC in HCAI prevention are debated in light of this guiding principle. With respect to the indirect role of PHC, we discuss the issues of hospital-centrism and ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. The article outlines a number of challenges faced by health services related to PHC's direct role in HCAI prevention, highlights seven key components of HCAI prevention programmes within the PHC sphere and provides practical recommendations for HCAI control and prevention.