UPDATE ON INFECTION PREVENTION IN THE ICU

Humanitas University

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a critical challenge in intensive care units (ICUs) due to the high prevalence of invasive procedures and vulnerable patient populations. This document outlines ten key IPC strategies for ICUs, categorizing them into horizontal (universal) and vertical (pathogen-specific) approaches. It emphasizes the importance of enhanced hand hygiene compliance and discusses the role of selective decontamination strategies, tailored based on local epidemiology and pathogen characteristics. The review also addresses the implications of recent studies on contact precautions for multidrug-resistant organisms.