en Nursing Orginal research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height:2;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Background: </b></span><span style="color:black">Healthcare-associated Infection (HAI) case finding and reporting remain major surveillance challenge. Innovative methods could improve infection prevention programs.</span></span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Objectives:</b> </span><span style="color:black">This quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of involving nursing internship students in HAI case finding and reporting at Taleghani Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.</span></span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Methods:</b></span><span style="color:black"> Ninety nursing internship students were selected via convenience sampling to report HAI signs while providing care in general, neurosurgical, and orthopedic wards. The intervention took place during the first semester of the 2020&ndash;2021 academic year. HAIs were reported using the Hospital Infection Detection Form. Student reports were compared with routine nurse reports. HAI counts during the intervention were also compared with pre- and post-intervention periods. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and Poisson regression in SPSS 24.</span></span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Results:</b></span><span style="color:black"> No significant differences were found between student-reported and nurse-reported urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, or total HAIs (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Reported HAIs were 12 pre-interventions, increased to 49 during intervention, and declined to 14 post-interventions. The HAI incidence rate per 1,000 patient-days was 4.62 pre-intervention, 16.44 during intervention, and 5.56 post-intervention (<i>p</i> < 0.001).</span></span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Conclusion:</b></span><span style="color:black"> Involving nursing students in case finding significantly increased reported HAIs, suggesting a cost-effective approach to enhance early detection and reporting. &nbsp;Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence supporting nursing student participation in HAI case finding.</span></span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:black"></span></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</div> Infection Prevention and Control, Healthcare-Associated Infection, Surgical Site Infections, Urinary Tract Infection, Case Finding, Nursing Students. 56 63 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1061-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Leili Rostamnia L.rostamniya@gmail.com 100319475328460016800 100319475328460016800 No Nursing Department, Nursing and Midwifery School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Vahid Ghanbari vahid.gh13@gmail.com 100319475328460016801 100319475328460016801 Yes Prehospital Emergency Care Department, Paramedic School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Nesa Cheraghbeigy nesa137193@gmail.com 100319475328460016802 100319475328460016802 No Nursing Department, Nursing and Midwifery School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Mohmmad javad Veisimankali Mjavadveisi@gmail.com 100319475328460016803 100319475328460016803 No Nursing Department, Nursing and Midwifery School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Mandana Mozaffari zarinkooh@yahoo.com 100319475328460016804 100319475328460016804 No Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran