Fragilidades e potencialidades da atuação do enfermeiro no serviço de controle de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare-Related Infections (IRAS) is a type of infection acquired upon admission of the patient that manifests during hospitalization or after discharge when it may be related to hospitalization or hospital procedures. The Hospital Infection Control Program and the Hospital Infection Control Committees aim at the maximum reduction in the incidence and severity of IRAS, where the nurse is preferably the healthcare professional for the executing member. Objective: To identify weaknesses and potentialities of nurses working in the Health Care-Related Infection Control Service (SCIRAS). Methods: This is a descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional research using data collection and interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire, approved by the Research Ethics Committee under number CAAE 89410618.8.0000.5013, linked to Institutional Program for Scientific Initiation Scholarships (PIBIC) 2018-2019. The collection scenarios were the medium and large hospitals located in a city in northeastern Brazil, and this research was directed to all nurses of the Hospital Infection Control Service of institutions registered with ANVISA. Results 04 hospitals participated in the study, totaling 10 nurses. Weaknesses stand out: little management support, lack of knowledge of professionals when the importance and scope of the service of infection control related to health care, the lack of human resources and the lack of inputs; and the potentialities: autonomy, communication, commitment and harmony of the service team, presence of resident nurses. Conclusion: the weaknesses and potentialities of acting in a service of infection control related to health care were identified and it was not possible to quantify the relationship between weaknesses and potentialities of nurses' performance in SCIRAS, as these are of greater relevance in a qualitative manner.