Objectives: To analyze adherence to aseptic measures and contact with environmental surfaces by nursing professionals during intravenous medication administration.
Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in an adult Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital between February and March 2023. Twenty-seven nursing professionals were observed in a real-world care setting, and the magnitude of the associations was analyzed using the Prevalence Ratio, with a 95% Confidence Interval.
Results: 135 medication administration procedures were observed, and 1,083 touches on surfaces were detected (mean of eight touches per procedure). The most frequently touched surfaces were infusion pumps (29.1%), infusion sets (28.1%), and clothing (9.7%). Of the 11 indicators of compliance with aseptic measures, six were classified as non-compliant.
Conclusions: Low adherence to aseptic measures and a significant frequency of touching clinical surfaces before administering medications were observed, which may represent a risk to patient safety.
Reference:Ramos PSB, Costa AMRFD, Vilalba ABC, Oliveira MLB, Ferreira Júnior MA, Frota OP. Intravenous medication administration by nursing staff: adherence to aseptic measures and touching environmental surfaces. Rev Bras Enferm. 2026 Jul 17;79:e20250256. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2025-0256. PMID: 42484192; PMCID: PMC13379196.