BACKGROUND Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) result in increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. HAI rates in Greek NICUs are among the highest in Europe. There is a need to identify the factors that influence the transmission of HAIs and implementation of prevention interventions in this setting. AIM To understand healthcare workers' perceptions about HAI prevention in Greek NICUs. METHODS Qualitative interviews were conducted with NICU staff (physicians and nurses) and infection prevention stakeholders (infectious diseases physicians and infection control nurses) working in three hospitals in Athens. Interviews were conducted in Greek, transcribed and translated into English, and analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. FINDINGS Interviews were conducted with 37 respondents (20 physicians and 17 nurses). Four main barriers to HAI prevention were identified: (1) resource limitations leading to understaffing and cramped space; (2) poor knowledge about HAI prevention; (3) Greek-specific cultural norms, including hierarchy-driven decisions, a reluctance for public workers to do more than they are paid for, a belief that personal experience trumps evidence-based knowledge, and reactive rather than proactive approaches to societal challenges; and (4) lack of a national infection prevention infrastructure. Respondents believed that these barriers could be overcome through organized initiatives, high-quality HAI performance data, interpersonal interactions to build engagement around HAI prevention, and leveraging the hierarchy to promote change from the 'top down'. CONCLUSION Implementing HAI prevention interventions in Greek NICUs will require consideration of contextual features surrounding the delivery of care, with particular attention paid to national culture.

中文翻译：

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民族文化和背景对希腊新生儿重症监护病房医护人员的感染预防观念的影响。

背景技术新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）中的医疗保健相关感染（HAIs）导致发病率，死亡率和医疗保健费用的增加。希腊重症监护病房的HAI比率是欧洲最高的国家之一。在这种情况下，有必要确定影响HAIs传播和实施预防干预措施的因素。目的了解希腊NICU中医护人员对预防HAI的看法。方法对在雅典三所医院工作的新生儿重症监护病房的工作人员（医师和护士）和感染预防的利益相关者（传染病医生和感染控制护士）进行了定性访谈。采访以希腊语进行，转录并翻译成英语，然后使用经过修改的扎根理论方法进行分析。结果采访了37位受访者（20位医生和17位护士）。确定了预防HAI的四个主要障碍：（1）资源短缺导致人员不足和空间狭窄；（2）对HAI的预防知识不足；（3）希腊特有的文化规范，包括等级驱动的决策，公务员不愿做超出其报酬的工作，相信个人经验胜过基于证据的知识，以及对社会挑战采取被动而不是主动的方法的信念；（4）缺乏全国性的预防感染基础设施。受访者认为，可以通过有组织的举措，高质量的HAI绩效数据，人际互动来围绕HAI预防建立互动关系，并利用层次结构来促进从“ 自顶向下'。结论在希腊重症监护病房中实施HAI预防干预措施将需要考虑围绕护理提供的背景特征，尤其要注意民族文化。