Barriers to Infection Control in the Emergency Department

The May 2026 issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing features new research detailing the systemic, environmental, and human factors that complicate infection prevention and control for staff working in emergency departments.

The study, titled Beneath the Personal Protective Equipment: Perspectives on Infection Prevention and Control from Emergency Department Health Care Personnel, examines the specific challenges that make it difficult for emergency nurses and other healthcare staff to remain safe from infectious diseases while providing care.

Anna Valdez, a PhD, RN, PHN, CEN, CFRN, FAEN, FAADN, FADLN and editor of the journal, characterized these challenges as a critical reality in emergency care.

Nurses are consistently exposed to infectious diseases, yet practical barriers can limit the consistent use of personal protective equipment and make it more difficult to maintain infection prevention and control

Anna Valdez

Operational Barriers to Infection Control

According to the research, front-line emergency nurses identified specific operational pressures that undermine safety protocols. Overcrowding and time constraints were cited as primary factors that cause essential infection control actions to be neglected.

The study found that these pressures can lead to critical failures in standard safety procedures, such as the proper disinfection of rooms or the necessary isolation of patients with infectious diseases.

The intensity of these environment-driven challenges was highlighted by one provider in the study, who stated they felt forced to choose between the lesser of two evils when attempting to maintain infection control within an overcrowded emergency department.

Impact on Healthcare Personnel and Patients

The findings emphasize that the inability to consistently apply infection prevention measures is not merely an individual failure but is often the result of broader systemic and environmental issues within the healthcare setting.

Valdez noted that the objective of identifying these specific barriers is to create a safer environment for both the providers and the people they treat.

By identifying and addressing these challenges, we can better protect emergency nurses and the patients and communities they serve

Anna Valdez

The research underscores the need to address the human and environmental factors that impede the use of personal protective equipment to ensure a higher standard of safety in emergency care settings.