Resource allocation: the main problem in infection control in intensive care units of hospitals

Background and Purpose: Nosocomial infections, especially those occurring in intensive care units (ICUs), are one of the major health problems in every community. Nosocomial infections are associated with increased mortality rate and high treatment costs. Effective control of these infections essentially depends on the knowledge of healthcare providers regarding the detection and eradication of the associated causes. This study aimed to investigate the main challenges involved in the prevention and control of nosocomial infections in hospital ICUs. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted on 21 healthcare providers selected via purposive sampling from various medical subgroups, including anesthesiologist, nursing managers, supervisors, faculty members, head nurses, and hospital managers. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with the participants. Data analysis was performed using qualitative conventional content analysis. Results: In total, four main themes were emerged from conventional content analysis, as follows: 1) complex nature of work in the ICU; 2) lack of knowledge of healthcare providers; 3) inadequate equipment and resources and 4) human resource shortage.  Conclusion: According to the results of this study, appropriate resource allocation, improvement of organizational health structures, and competency of healthcare personnel in hospital ICUs could be remarkably effective in the prevention, control and reduction of nosocomial infections.