OMAR A. ALAHMARI, ABDULAZIZ A ALSHIHRI, TAREQ SAAD ALSHEHRI, ABDULKARIM HAMEED ALANAZI, ABDULAZIZ ABDULLAH AL-DAMEGH, ,MARYAM ALKAHTANI, MANAL NASER BIN SUNBIL, MEHINAT MOHAMMED ALOBAIDAN, ABDULMAJID MOHAMMAD HAMZAH MUBARAK, SHATHA AL DAILEJ
DOI: https://doi.org/This comprehensive review examines infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in pediatric medical imaging, addressing the unique challenges and best practices in this specialized healthcare setting. Pediatric patients are particularly vulnerable to healthcareassociated infections due to their developing immune systems, making robust IPC protocols essential in radiology departments serving children. The article synthesizes evidence from 67 studies to identify common sources of infection in pediatric imaging environments, including contaminated equipment, procedural risks, and environmental factors. Best practices for infection prevention are detailed, encompassing hand hygiene, equipment cleaning and disinfection, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, and workflow optimization. The review highlights several documented outbreaks associated with medical imaging procedures, underscoring the importance of stringent infection control measures. Significant challenges in pediatric settings include unique pediatric considerations, knowledge and compliance gaps among staff, resource constraints, and the ongoing threat of emerging infectious diseases as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A systems engineering approach to infection prevention is advocated, recognizing that effective IPC requires attention to human factors and organizational systems beyond individual compliance with protocols. The article concludes with recommendations for implementing comprehensive infection control programs in pediatric imaging departments and identifies promising future directions, including non-contact technologies and standardized guidelines development. This review provides valuable guidance for healthcare professionals working in pediatric imaging to enhance patient safety through effective infection prevention strategies.
