General concepts
- Define healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and explain their epidemiological burden in the ICU.
- Distinguish between colonisation and true infection, and explain clinical implications of this distinction for diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making.
- Describe the multimodal approach to HAI prevention, including hand hygiene, environmental disinfection, care bundles, staff education, and surveillance.
- Explain the relationship between nurse-to-patient ratios, staffing levels, and HAI risk.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
- Describe the epidemiology of VAP.
- Explain the pathobiological mechanisms underlying VAP development.
- Apply the diagnostic criteria for VAP and recognise the limitations of current diagnostic approaches.
- Implement evidence-based essential prevention strategies for VAP, including avoidance of intubation, sedation minimisation, semi-recumbent positioning, oral care, and enteral feeding.
Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI)
- Describe the epidemiology of CRBSI across different catheter types.
- Explain the main routes of catheter contamination and the role of insertion technique and hub care in infection pathogenesis.
- Apply the key elements of CRBSI prevention (insertion site selection, barrier precautions, chlorhexidine skin antisepsis, and post-insertion care).
- Describe best practices for blood culture sampling to minimise false-positive results and avoid unnecessary antimicrobial therapy.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
- Identify modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for CAUTI.
- Apply diagnostic criteria for CAUTI.
- Implement appropriate catheter insertion technique and closed-system maintenance practices to reduce CAUTI risk.
- Evaluate the role of nurse-driven protocols in reducing inappropriate catheter use and CAUTI incidence.
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