title: [The role of primary care in the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections].
abstract: Little research has been conducted to date on the role of primary health care (PHC) in the prevention of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). The present article is a theoretical study of the principle of primum non nocere and aims to promote reflection on the role of PHC in HCAI prevention with emphasis on practical recommendations. The indirect and direct roles of PHC in HCAI prevention are debated in light of this guiding principle. With respect to the indirect role of PHC, we discuss the issues of hospital-centrism and ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. The article outlines a number of challenges faced by health services related to PHC's direct role in HCAI prevention, highlights seven key components of HCAI prevention programmes within the PHC sphere and provides practical recommendations for HCAI control and prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Padoveze
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosely Moralez de
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D061214:Patient Safety; D011320:Primary Health Care