en Infectious Disease Infectious Disease Original Research Original Research <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">Background: </span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most critical challenges for patients and healthcare providers. To achieve the goals of the surveillance system, it is necessary to identify its barriers and problems. This study aimed to identify the barriers and problems of the surveillance system for HAIs.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Methods:</b> This qualitative study was conducted using the content analysis method to investigate the challenges of this surveillance system from the perspective of 18 infection control nurses from hospitals in different cities of Iran with work experience of 1 to 15 years. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Lundman and Graneheim qualitative content analysis method.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Results:</b> In this study, we found 2 categories and 7 subcategories. Two categories were barriers related to human resources and organizational barriers to infection control. The 7 subcategories included weakness of medical staff in adherence to health principles, obstacles related to patients, high workload and insufficient motivation, lack of staff knowledge, lack of human resources, functional and logistical weaknesses, and weaknesses in the surveillance system.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Conclusion:</b> To reduce problems and improve HAIs reporting, the HAIs surveillance system needs the support of health system officials and managers. This administrative and support focus can establish the framework for removing and lowering other barriers, such as the number of reported cases, physician and staff noncooperation, and the prevalence of HAIs. It can also bring HAIs cases closer to reality.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp; Surveillance System, Reporting, HAI, Qualitative Study, Infection Control, Iran 484 491 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4046-4&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Naser Nasiri nasiri.epi@gmail.com 200319475328460077684 200319475328460077684 No HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Parvin Mangolian Shahrbabaki mangolian167@yahoo.com 200319475328460077685 200319475328460077685 No Nursing Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Ali Sharifi a_sharifi@kmu.ac.ir 200319475328460077686 200319475328460077686 No Department of Ophthalmology, Shafa Hospital, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Iman Ghasemzadeh imanghasem@gmail.com 200319475328460077687 200319475328460077687 No 1. HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Malahat Khalili malahat.khalili@gmail.com 200319475328460077688 200319475328460077688 No The Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Ali Karamoozian alikaramooz69@gmail.com 200319475328460077689 200319475328460077689 No Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Ali Khalooei dr_khalooei@yahoo.com 200319475328460077690 200319475328460077690 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran AliAkbar Haghdoost ahaghdoost@gmail.com 200319475328460077691 200319475328460077691 No HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Hamid Sharifi hsharifi@kmu.ac.ir 200319475328460077692 200319475328460077692 Yes HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran