Background/objectives: This descriptive study investigated the influence of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ knowledge and perception of the importance of patient safety management, nursing professionalism, and infection control organizational culture on the direct and indirect performance of centrally inserted central catheter (CICC) infection control. Direct performance encompasses immediate infection control interventions administered to patients, whereas indirect performance constitutes physician communication and documentation protocols.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to survey 176 ICU nurses from a tertiary hospital in Korea.

Results: There were no significant differences in CICC infection control performance according to participants’ general characteristics. The direct performance of CICC infection control showed a significant positive correlation with clinical experience (p = 0.006), ICU work experience (p = 0.020), the perception of the importance of patient safety management (p < 0.001), nursing professionalism (p < 0.001), and infection control organizational culture (p < 0.001). The indirect performance of CICC infection control did not show any significant correlation with participants' general characteristics; however, it showed significant positive correlations with the perception of the importance of patient safety management (p < 0.001), nursing professionalism (p < 0.001), and infection control organizational culture (p < 0.001). The factors affecting the direct performance of CICC infection control were the perception of the importance of patient safety management and infection control organizational culture. The perception of the importance of patient safety management affected the indirect performance of CICC infection control.

Conclusions: To enhance overall infection control performance among ICU nurses, it is crucial to raise the perception of the importance of patient safety management and implement systematic strategies targeting both the direct and indirect performance of CICC infection control. Healthcare institutions should establish more detailed guidelines distinguishing between direct and indirect performance of CICC infection control and continuously educate ICU nurses on the importance of compliance with both aspects.

Park Y, Choi S. Factors Affecting the Direct and Indirect Performance of Infection Control for Centrally Inserted Central Catheters Among ICU Nurses. Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Apr 24;13(9):988. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13090988. PMID: 40361766; PMCID: PMC12071289.