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Infection Control Nurse: a national survey
R Quattrin1, A Pecile, L Conzut
1DPMSC School of Medicine, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, 33100 Udine, Italy. r.quattrin@med.uniud.it
Journal of Nursing Management
|August 19, 2004
Summary
Infection Control Nurses (ICN) are present in over half of Italian National Health System hospitals, but full-time roles are less common. Their activity is concentrated in larger hospitals, particularly in surveillance and education.
Area of Science:
- Hospital epidemiology
- Infection prevention and control
- Healthcare workforce analysis
Background:
- Infection Control Nurses (ICN) are crucial for effective hospital infection control programs.
- Their role is evidence-based, supporting optimal infrastructure and essential activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the presence and scope of activities of Infection Control Nurses (ICN) within Italian National Health System (NHS) hospitals.
- To analyze the distribution and roles of ICNs across different hospital sizes and settings.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide survey was conducted across all 529 Italian NHS hospitals.
- Hospital health directors completed questionnaires detailing ICN presence, activities, and roles.
- A response rate of 87.5% (463 hospitals) was achieved.
Main Results:
- Over 50% of surveyed hospitals reported having at least one ICN.
- 25% had part-time ICNs, and 23.3% had full-time ICNs.
- ICNs were more prevalent in hospitals with over 250 beds and actively engaged in surveillance, education, and group management in these larger facilities.
Conclusions:
- The presence of Infection Control Nurses (ICN) in Italian NHS hospitals is significant but not universal.
- Full-time ICN positions remain underdeveloped in many Italian hospitals.
- ICNs are more established and active in larger healthcare facilities, indicating a need for broader integration.