Patient Safety Improvement Via Reducing Health Care–Associated Infections (HCAIs)

Background: Health care–associated infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remain major threats to global patient safety. Targeted infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship are crucial. This study aimed to enhance patient safety by reducing HCAIs and AMR through structured interventions. Methods: An action research study was conducted at Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from January 10, 2024, to July 30, 2025, using a planning, implementation, observation, and reflection cycle. Participants included physicians and nurses. Interventions comprised antibiotic stewardship, a hand hygiene compliance program, and active infection surveillance. Demographic and clinical data from 136 patients with positive cultures were analyzed, comparing pre- and postintervention outcomes. Results: The patients’ mean age was 30.52 (SD 20.63) years; the mean length of stay was 23.94 (SD 18.83) days; and the mean time to infection onset was 12.42 (SD 15.49) days. Hand hygiene compliance significantly improved ( P < 0.05). While infection rates and mortality showed a decreasing trend postintervention, the reductions were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Conclusions: Antibiotic stewardship, hand hygiene promotion, and active surveillance may improve patient safety and reduce HCAIs. Sustained, multifaceted infection control interventions are needed to significantly decrease infection-related morbidity and mortality.