Exploring Infection Control Link Nurses’ Roles, Functions, and Challenges in Brunei Darussalam
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/ijcs.v8i3.460Keywords:
Infection control link nurse, Healthcare-associated infections, Nursing role, Qualitative, Brunei DarussalamAbstract
Background: Infection Control Link Nurses (ICLNs) play a key role in bridging clinical teams and the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team to enhance adherence to infection prevention practices. Despite their importance, the roles, challenges, and contributions of ICLNs in Brunei’s hospitals remain underexplored. This study explored ICLNs’ perceptions of their roles and functions, the challenges they encounter, and opportunities to strengthen their impact on infection prevention and control in hospital settings in Brunei Darussalam.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 26 ICLNs from four district hospitals. Participants were purposively sampled and interviewed via WhatsApp voice calls. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and patterns.
Results: Three themes emerged: (1) Perceived role, where ICLNs acted as educators, monitors, and liaisons to promote infection control and model best practices; (2) Challenges faced, including resistance from senior staff, time constraints, and limited managerial support; and (3) Value of an ICLN, highlighting the benefits of collaboration, knowledge transfer, and enhanced infection prevention in clinical practice. Participants emphasised that organisational support, protected time, and peer networking were critical to maximising the effectiveness of their role.
Conclusion: ICLNs are integral to implementing and sustaining infection prevention practices. Their effectiveness is enhanced by dedicated time, leadership support, and collaborative networks, which collectively improve adherence to infection control measures, strengthen professional development, and contribute to patient safety and the reduction of healthcare-associated infections in Brunei Darussalam.
References
Dekker M, Jongerden IP, Caris MG, de Bruijne MC, Vandenbroucke-Grauls CMJE, van Mansfeld R. Evaluation of an infection control link nurse program: an analysis using the RE-AIM framework. BMC Health Serv Res [Internet]. 2023;23(1):140. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09111-5
Royal College of Nursing. The role of the link nurse in infection prevention and control (IPC): [Internet]. Org.uk. [cited 2025 May 21]. Available from: https://www.rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-college-of-nursing/documents/publications/2021/march/009-595.pdf?la=en
Dekker M, Jongerden IP, van Mansfeld R, Ket JCF, van der Werff SD, Vandenbroucke-Grauls CMJE, et al. Infection control link nurses in acute care hospitals: a scoping review. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control [Internet]. 2019;8:20. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13756-019-0476-8
Ghorbanmovahhed S, Shahbazi S, Gilani N, Ostadi A, Shabanloei R, Gholizadeh L. Effectiveness of implementing of an infection control link nurse program to improve compliance with standard precautions and hand hygiene among nurses: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Med Educ [Internet]. 2023;23(1):265. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04208-1
Peter D, Meng M, Kugler C, Mattner F. Strategies to promote infection prevention and control in acute care hospitals with the help of infection control link nurses: A systematic literature review. Am J Infect Control [Internet]. 2018;46(2):207–16. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2017.07.031
Lloyd-Smith E, Curtin J, Gilbart W, Romney MG. Qualitative evaluation and economic estimates of an infection control champions program. Am J Infect Control [Internet]. 2014;42(12):1303–7. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2014.08.017
Williams L, Cooper T, Bradford L, Cooledge B, Elner F, Fisher D, et al. An evaluation of an infection prevention link nurse programme in community hospitals and development of an implementation model. J Infect Prev [Internet]. 2019;20(1):37–45. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1757177418789480
Dekker M, van Mansfeld R, Vandenbroucke-Grauls CM, Lauret TE, Schutijser BC, de Bruijne MC, et al. Role perception of infection control link nurses; a multi-centre qualitative study. J Infect Prev [Internet]. 2022;23(3):93–100. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17571774211066786
Dekker M, Jongerden IP, de Bruijne MC, Jelsma JGM, Vandenbroucke-Grauls CMJE, van Mansfeld R. Strategies to improve the implementation of infection control link nurse programmes in acute-care hospitals. J Hosp Infect [Internet]. 2022;128:54 63. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2022.07.005
Patton MQ. Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications; 2023.
Braun V, Clarke V. Thematic analysis: A practical guide. London, England: SAGE Publications; 2021.
Roberts K, Dowell A, Nie J-B. Attempting rigour and replicability in thematic analysis of qualitative research data: a case study of codebook development. BMC Med Res Methodol [Internet]. 2019;19(1):66. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12874-019-0707-y
Thandar MM, Rahman MO, Haruyama R, Matsuoka S, Okawa S, Moriyama J, et al. Effectiveness of infection control teams in reducing healthcare-associated infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2022;19(24):17075. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192417075
Seto WH, Yuen SWS, Cheung CWY, Ching PTY, Cowling BJ, Pittet D. Hand hygiene promotion and the participation of infection control link nurses: an effective innovation to overcome campaign fatigue. Am J Infect Control [Internet]. 2013;41(12):1281–3. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2013.04.011
Donati D, Miccoli GA, Cianfrocca C, Di Stasio E, De Marinis MG, Tartaglini D. Effectiveness of implementing link nurses and audits and feedback to improve nurses’ compliance with standard precautions: A cluster randomised controlled trial. Am J Infect Control [Internet]. 2020;48(10):1204–10. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.01.017
Greene C, Wilson J. The use of behaviour change theory for infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings: A scoping review. J Infect Prev [Internet]. 2022;23(3):108–17. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17571774211066779
Johansen H, Helgesen AK. Palliative care in the community - the role of the resource nurse, a qualitative study. BMC Palliat Care [Internet]. 2021;20(1):157. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00860-w
Henderson J, Willis E, Blackman I, Verrall C, McNeill L. Comparing infection control and ward nurses’ views of the omission of infection control activities using the Missed Nursing Care Infection Prevention and Control (MNCIPC) Survey. J Nurs Manag [Internet]. 2021;29(5):1228–38. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13261
McAlearney AS, Gaughan AA, DePuccio MJ, MacEwan SR, Hebert C, Walker DM. Management practices for leaders to promote infection prevention: Lessons from a qualitative study. Am J Infect Control [Internet]. 2021;49(5):536–41. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.09.001
Bonawitz K, Wetmore M, Heisler M, Dalton VK, Damschroder LJ, Forman J, et al. Champions in context: which attributes matter for change efforts in healthcare? Implement Sci [Internet]. 2020;15(1):62. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13012-020-01024-9
Dekker M, van Mansfeld R, Vandenbroucke-Grauls C, de Bruijne M, Jongerden I. Infection control link nurse programs in Dutch acute care hospitals; a mixed-methods study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control [Internet]. 2020;9(1):42. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13756-020-0704-2
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARE SCHOLARS (ISSN: 2600-898X)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
