Combating Healthcare-Associated Infections in Modern Hospitals: Nanotechnology-Based Approaches in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance.

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent one of the most persistent challenges in modern healthcare delivery, affecting millions of patients worldwide and imposing substantial clinical and economic burdens on healthcare systems. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has further complicated infection management, creating an urgent need for innovative therapeutic and preventive strategies. Current strategies for combating AMR in hospital settings encompass comprehensive infection prevention and control measures, antimicrobial stewardship programs, enhanced environmental cleaning protocols and innovative surface modification technologies. Nanotechnology has emerged as a valuable approach to address the limitations of conventional antimicrobial strategies. Various nanomaterial categories offer innovative platforms for developing novel treatment strategies and for providing advantages including reduced toxicity through lower dosage requirements, diminished resistance development potential, and enhanced antibacterial effects through combined action mechanisms. Particularly, metal-based nanoparticles and their oxides demonstrate exceptional antimicrobial properties through multiple mechanisms including membrane damage, protein binding and reactive oxygen species generation. This comprehensive review examines the current landscape of hospital-acquired infections, the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, and the promising role of nanotechnology-based solutions, with particular emphasis on silver nanoparticles as innovative tool for HAI control in clinical settings. Recent advances in nanotechnology-enabled antimicrobial coatings are assessed along with their clinical translation in hospital settings, identifying key barriers concerning material durability, safety profiles, and regulatory pathways.