Reconceptualizing Infection Prevention In Healthcare: A Multidepartmental Review Of Clinical, Organizational, And Digital Strategies

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant challenge to patient safety, quality of care, and health system sustainability worldwide. Despite advances in infection prevention and control (IPC), many healthcare organizations continue to rely on fragmented, department-specific strategies that fail to address the complex and interconnected nature of infection risks across care pathways. This review reconceptualizes infection prevention as a multidepartmental, system-wide function, integrating clinical practices, organizational governance, and digital health strategies. Drawing on recent evidence, the review synthesizes how coordinated actions across medical and support departments enhance compliance with IPC protocols, strengthen surveillance and early detection, and reduce transmission during patient flow and care transitions. The analysis highlights the critical role of leadership, workforce engagement, policy alignment, and digital infrastructure in enabling effective infection prevention. An integrated conceptual perspective is proposed, illustrating how clinical, organizational, and technological elements interact to form resilient infection prevention systems. By moving beyond siloed approaches, this review provides a comprehensive framework to guide healthcare leaders, policymakers, and researchers in designing sustainable, coordinated, and adaptive IPC strategies suited to modern healthcare environments.