Abstract

A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE ROLE OF PHARMACY AND LABORATORY SERVICES IN ENHANCING INFECTION PREVENTION: APPLIED INFECTION CONTROL TECHNIQUES IN NURSING UNITS

Ziad Bin Badi Hamoud Al-Harbi*, Raed Ibrahim Rashid Al-Rashid, Saleh Nashat Alotaibi, Muteb Saeed Saud Alharbi and Mohammed Salem Alshammari

ABSTRACT

Background: Infection prevention is a critical component of patient safety in healthcare facilities, particularly in nursing units where the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is high. Despite the recognized importance of infection control, the potential of pharmacy and laboratory services in enhancing these efforts remains underutilized. Pharmacy services play a key role in antimicrobial stewardship, while laboratories provide essential diagnostic data for infection surveillance and management. The integration of these services could significantly improve infection prevention outcomes. Aim: This paper aims to investigate the role of pharmacy and laboratory services in enhancing infection prevention in nursing units, focusing on the application of advanced infection control techniques and interdisciplinary collaboration. Methods: The study utilized amixed-methods approach, including a review of existing infection control protocols, interviews with healthcare staff, and quantitative analysis of infection rates pre- and post-intervention. Data were collected from nursing units in multiple healthcare facilities to evaluate the impact of collaborative pharmacy and laboratory practices. Results: Findings indicate a significant reduction in infection rates, improved compliance with antimicrobial stewardship guidelines, and enhanced pathogen detection capabilities. Pharmacy-led interventions reduced inappropriate antibiotic use, while laboratory-driven data supported timely responses to infection trends. Interdisciplinary collaboration emerged as a key factor in the success of these interventions. Conclusion: The integration of pharmacy and laboratory services into infection prevention strategies in nursing units is both effective and essential. This study highlights the need for healthcare facilities to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to infection control, leveraging the strengths of both pharmacy and laboratory practices.

Keywords: pharmacy services, laboratory services, infection prevention, infection control, nursing units, antimicrobial stewardship, healthcare collaboration.