Healthcare-associated infections: etiological agents and control strategies

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) represent one of the major challenges in contemporary public health, being associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs. This study provides a comprehensive review of the historical evolution of HAIs, their main etiological agents, and the available prevention and control measures. Bacteria, particularly species of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp., stand out as important causes of nosocomial infections, often resistant to antimicrobials. Among fungi, Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. are the most frequent, followed by other opportunistic agents such as Mucorales and Fusarium spp.. The study emphasizes that the spread of these infections is related to factors such as the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, invasive procedures, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and weaknesses in biosafety practices. To address this problem, key measures include proper hand hygiene, correct use of personal protective equipment, surface disinfection, appropriate management of invasive devices, rational use of antimicrobials, patient isolation, as well as continuous epidemiological surveillance programs and professional training. It is concluded that understanding the microorganisms involved and rigorously implementing biosafety protocols are essential to reduce the incidence of HAIs, ensuring greater patient safety and improved quality of healthcare.