Effectiveness of educational interventions to reduce healthcare- associated infections in adult intensive care units: a scoping review

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a serious threat to patients admitted to hospitals and particularly to ICUs, as they contribute to increased mortality, prolonged length of stay and consequently increased healthcare costs. The aim of the present scoping review was to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions for the reduction of these infections in the adult ICU. A systematic literature search was conducted from December 2022 to March 2023, making use of official electronic databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; the key terms used for the search were the following: "Healthcare Associated Infections"; "educational interventions"; "intensive care unit" in all possible combinations and making use of the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR"; the application of the PRISMA methodology allowed a final screening of ten[MOU2] (10) studies on which the present review was based. In the selected studies, it was evident that education was essential and should be shared between multidisciplinary care teams, patients, their families, and caregivers. Statistical significance was found in two studies that demonstrated a reduction in HAIs. Despite considerable variation in the duration and type of educational intervention, the importance of establishing continuing education to maintain intervention results.