Comprehensive Review: The Role of Continuous Training for Healthcare Practitioners in Infection Prevention

Contributing significantly to patient morbidity, extended hospital stays, and elevated treatment costs. Continuous training for healthcare practitioners has emerged as a crucial strategy for ad-dressing these issues, equipping healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively adhere to infection prevention protocols. This systematic review explores the role of continuous training in improving knowledge, enhancing protocol adherence, and reducing HAIs. The methodology included an extensive review of studies published between 2010 and 2024, focusing on measurable outcomes related to infection prevention. The findings indicate that continuous training pro-grams significantly improve knowledge retention, with an average 40% increase in hand hygiene practices and a 37% enhancement in PPE usage. Moreover, adherence to infection prevention protocols saw a notable rise, with compliance rates for hand hygiene increasing by 35% and environmental cleaning practices by 25%. These improvements directly contributed to substantial reductions in HAIs, including a 58% decrease in surgical site infections and a 60% drop in catheter-associated infections. Despite these positive outcomes, implementing continuous training faces challenges such as resource limitations, workload pressures, and variability in training quality. Leveraging technology, including virtual reality (VR) simulations and e-learning platforms, offers scalable and cost-effective solutions to address these barriers. This review underscores the transformative potential of continuous training in advancing infection prevention practices and improving healthcare outcomes. The recommendations emphasize the need for institutional support, regular refreshers, and technology integration to ensure sustainable improvements in healthcare quality and patient safety.