Appendix 1. Search strategy

Search strategy for MEDLINE via PubMed. This will be adapted to suit Embase, CINAHL and CENTRAL
#1 Explode 'healthcare‐associated infections' [MESH heading] /all subheadings
#2 Explode ''nosocomial infections" [MESH heading]/all subheadings
#3 Search 'hospital‐acquired infections’ [MESH heading] /all subheadings

#4 Search 'healthcare‐associated infections' as keyword
#5 Search ‘nosocomial infections’ as keyword
#6 Search 'hospital‐acquired infections’ as keyword

#7 #1 OR #2 OR #3 OR #4 OR #5 OR #6

#8 Explode 'Infant‐Newborn' [MESH heading]/ all subheadings
#9 neonat*
#10 #8 OR #9

#11 Search infect* near control*
#12 Search patient near isolation*
#13 Search 'communicable disease control'
#14 Search '(communicable adj disease adj control)'
#15 'outbreak'
#16 'epidemic'
#17 'endemic'
#18 'incidence'
#19 'prevalence'
#20 'screening'
#21 'surveillance'
#22 'coloniz*'
#23 'colonis*'
#24 'Isolation'
#25 'Segregation'
#26 'cohorting'
#27 'economic*'
#28 Explode 'economics' [MESH heading]/all subheadings
#29'cost*'
#30 #11 OR #12 OR #13 OR #14 OR #15 OR #16 OR #17 OR #18 OR #19 OR #20 OR
#21 OR #22 OR #23 OR #24 OR #25 OR #26 OR #27 OR #28 OR #29

#31 #7 AND #10 AND #30
#32 #31 and (TG=HUMAN)
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