Date of Award

2026

Type

Thesis

Major

Master of Science

Degree Type

Master of Public Health

First Advisor

Patricia Anafi, PhD

Second Advisor

Carlene Robinson, Dr.PH

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a preventable threat to patient safety and are linked to morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial resistance, and increased healthcare costs (CDC, 2024; AHRQ, 2024). Evidence suggests that 30–70% of HAIs may be prevented through consistent application of infection prevention practices; however, implementation and adherence gaps persist (CDC, 2024). This systematic review examined the relationship between healthcare worker compliance with infection prevention practices and infection outcomes and explored how institutional and organizational factors influenced both compliance and infection outcomes.

Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies evaluated interventions with at least two coordinated infection prevention strategies and reported both compliance and infection outcomes. Forty-four studies met inclusion criteria.

Across studies, multi-component interventions were commonly associated with improved compliance and reductions in HAIs, including CAUTI, CLABSI, VAP, SSI, and hospital-wide infections, though results varied by setting and implementation context. Findings indicate that sustained compliance and supportive organizational conditions are critical for effective infection prevention programs. These findings highlight compliance as a key mechanism linking infection prevention practices to improved patient safety outcomes.

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