Infection Prevention as a Shared Responsibility: The Role of all Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Infection prevention is a system-wide priority that depends on the coordinated actions of all healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, technicians, administrative staff, and environmental services. This expanded review argues that infection prevention succeeds when responsibility is distributed across roles and embedded in organizational culture, governance, and daily workflows. We synthesize contemporary guidance and evidence on universal precautions, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), environmental hygiene, antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance, education, and digital tools. The paper details role-specific contributions, interprofessional communication, and leadership mechanisms that sustain compliance, while addressing barriers such as resource gaps, behavioral fatigue, and inequities between high- and low-resource settings. We present practical, role-based recommendations and dashboards for monitoring, concluding that a resilient safety culture—supported by training, technology, and accountability—is essential to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and protect patients and staff.