The concept of vulnerability applied to Healthcare-associated Infections

ABSTRACT Objective: To discuss the potentialities of using the concept of vulnerability to support measures for preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Methods: This theoretical study was conducted in steps: 1) presentation of markers that frame the concept of vulnerability; 2) presentation of the characteristics of the health events to which the concept of vulnerability is intended to be applied; 3) identification of research gaps that could be potentially filled by using the concept of vulnerability; 4) identification of the potentialities of using the concept of vulnerability to deal with HAIs. Results: Proposal of a framework for analyzing HAIs from a vulnerability perspective, including the individual and collective dimensions. Conclusion: Using the concept of vulnerability to study and deal with HAIs favors a new approach to an old problem, unlike the dominant studies that highlight the individual aspects of the practices in healthcare services.

摘要
研究目的：探讨运用脆弱性（vulnerability）概念以支撑医疗相关感染（healthcare-associated infections, HAIs）防控措施的潜在价值。
研究方法：本项理论研究按以下步骤开展：
1）梳理界定脆弱性概念的核心标识；
2）阐述拟应用脆弱性概念的健康事件的特征；
3）识别可通过运用脆弱性概念填补的研究空白；
4）明确运用脆弱性概念应对医疗相关感染的潜在价值。
研究结果：提出了从脆弱性视角分析医疗相关感染的分析框架，涵盖个体与集体两个维度。
研究结论：与当前主流研究聚焦医疗服务实践的个体层面不同，运用脆弱性概念研究并应对医疗相关感染，可为这一老生常谈的问题提供全新的解决思路。