Abstract

Critical care units (CCUs) represent high-risk environments for healthcareassociated infections due to the severity of patient illnesses and the frequent use of invasive procedures. Nurses serve as the primary frontline personnel responsible for implementing and sustaining infection control protocols, managing everything from basic hand hygiene to the isolation of multi-resistant organisms. This paper explores the evolving role of nursing staff in intensive care settings by proposing a multidimensional framework that merges traditional hygiene practices with advanced technological solutions. By examining recent literature on machine learning for mortality prediction, novel antimicrobial biomaterials, and epidemiological network simulations, this study provides a comprehensive overview of how nurses can enhance infection mitigation. Ultimately, the paper outlines a hybrid approach to nursing-led infection control, discussing its practical deployment, ethical considerations, and specific directions for future research.

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Funding