Infection control protocols in hospitals are a cornerstone of patient safety, aimed at reducing the transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The ongoing global threat of antimicrobial resistance and emerging infectious diseases has made the implementation of stringent infection control strategies increasingly important. This review explores the evolution and effectiveness of hospital infection control protocols, examining key areas such as hand hygiene, isolation precautions, antimicrobial stewardship, staff training, and environmental cleaning. It further discusses the challenges hospitals face in maintaining compliance and identifies opportunities for improvement. Evidence from studies over the past two decades underscores the importance of multi-faceted strategies and continuous surveillance in reducing infection rates.

Keywords: Infection Control, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospital Infection Prevention, Hand Hygiene, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Isolation Precautions, Patient Safety, Environmental Cleaning, Surveillance, Infection Prevention Strategies