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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

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July 3, 2026
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December 31, 2024

Copyright (c) 2024 Hadeel Khunayfir Alrashidi, Miad Obaidallah Almutairi, Sultan Daaj Alotaibi, Mohammed Yahya Ahmed Asiri, Khaled Eid Abdul Rahman Al-Otaibi, Norah Obaid Almutairi, Faisal Tareheb Alotebe, Osama Saeed Alyami, Meshal Ayedh Alotaibi, Abdullah Mohammed Hassan Mindil

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Infection Prevention and Control in Community and Primary Healthcare Settings: An Interprofessional Review

https://doi.org/10.64483/202412731
Hadeel Khunayfir Alrashidi
Erada Mental Health Complex, Riyadh, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Miad Obaidallah Almutairi
Riyadh, Second Health Cluster - Rumah General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Sultan Daaj Alotaibi
Sarorah Phc, Ministry Of Health , Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Yahya Ahmed Asiri
Mahayil General Hospital, Mahayil Asir Health Holding,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Khaled Eid Abdul Rahman Al-Otaibi
Dawadmi Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Norah Obaid Almutairi
Erada Complex, Third Cluster, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Faisal Tareheb Alotebe
Shubairmah Health Center, affiliated with Al-Rafai Hospital, Third Cluster, Riyadh, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Osama Saeed Alyami
South Riyadh Dental Complex, Riyadh, Cluster 1, Riyadh, First Riyadh Health Cluster,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Meshal Ayedh Alotaibi
Dawadimi Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Mohammed Hassan Mindil
Damad Hospital, Jazan,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author(s) : Hadeel Khunayfir Alrashidi

HadeelKA@moh.gov.sa

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

Abstract

Background: The shift from hospital-centric to community-based care has expanded the scope and complexity of infection prevention and control (IPC), demanding seamless interprofessional collaboration across diverse, often resource-limited settings. Aim: This narrative review synthesizes recent evidence on IPC practices in community and primary healthcare environments, focusing on the interconnected roles of nursing, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, public health, and allied health professions. Methods: A structured literature review was conducted, analyzing peer-reviewed articles, clinical guidelines, and epidemiological reports published between 2015 and 2024. Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched using keywords related to standard precautions, community-acquired infections, oral healthcare IPC, epidemiological surveillance, and interprofessional practice. Results: Findings highlight persistent gaps in adherence to standard precautions, significant variability in sterilization protocols in dental settings, and weak epidemiological surveillance systems linking community clusters to primary care. The review identifies educational silos and infrastructural deficits as primary barriers to effective IPC. Conclusion: Achieving sustainable IPC in community settings requires a transformative shift from profession-specific compliance to a shared, interprofessional culture of safety. Integrated education, standardized cross-disciplinary protocols, and robust community-based surveillance networks are essential to protect both patients and the healthcare workforce.

Keywords

Infection prevention and control, primary healthcare, interprofessional practice, standard precautions, community health services
Alrashidi, H. K., Miad Obaidallah Almutairi, Sultan Daaj Alotaibi, Mohammed Yahya Ahmed Asiri, Khaled Eid Abdul Rahman Al-Otaibi, Norah Obaid Almutairi, … Abdullah Mohammed Hassan Mindil. (2024). Infection Prevention and Control in Community and Primary Healthcare Settings: An Interprofessional Review. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 1(2), 2534–2544. https://doi.org/10.64483/202412731
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