NERS NEWS — In an effort to reduce the incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in intensive care units, Group 1 of the Nursing Professional Program (Batch B27), Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, conducted a Hospital Health Promotion (PKRS) activity in the ICU of Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, on Thursday, July 23, 2026. The program specifically targeted patients’ family members in the ICU waiting area, considering that critically ill patients are highly vulnerable to infection transmission due to compromised immunity and the frequent use of invasive medical procedures.
Serving as the main presenter, Endah Nabila Sutrisno Putri, together with her fellow nursing students, delivered a comprehensive session on the importance of proper cough and sneeze etiquette, as well as adherence to the six-step handwashing technique. During the presentation, Endah emphasized that ICU settings require extra attention to prevent healthcare-associated infections, as respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing and direct contact through unclean hands are major routes for the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms.
To help participants easily remember the key practices, Endah introduced a practical guideline summarized as “C.D.H.M.”: Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue or the inner elbow, Dispose of used tissues in a closed bin immediately, Handwash using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, and Mask up when experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection. In addition to the theoretical explanation, Endah and the team demonstrated the WHO’s six-step handwashing technique and explained the Five Moments for Hand Hygiene to the 19 family members who enthusiastically participated in the session.
Participants showed great enthusiasm throughout the activity. During the discussion session, several attendees asked important questions about the differences between pneumonia and tuberculosis (TB), as well as the extent to which pneumonia can affect a patient’s level of consciousness. In response, the education team explained that pneumonia is an acute lung infection that develops suddenly due to bacterial or viral infection, whereas TB is a chronic disease requiring prolonged treatment. They also clarified that severe pneumonia may decrease a patient’s level of consciousness because of reduced oxygen supply to the brain (hypoxia) and the body’s systemic inflammatory response to infection.
The PKRS program was successfully conducted under the supervision of Erna Dwi Wahyuni, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep., Academic Supervisor, and Eko Yeppianto, S.Kep., Ns., Clinical Supervisor. Through the education provided by Endah Nabila Sutrisno Putri and the Universitas Airlangga Nursing Professional students, it is hoped that patients’ families will adopt clean and healthy living habits not only while accompanying patients in the hospital but also in their daily lives within the community.
Writer: Endah Nabila Sutrisno Putri
