**5. Conclusions**

The current review aimed to understand MIPs' knowledge and the precaution standards regarding the HCAIs in the RD. The present study resulted in five articles which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, only three used similar items related to the spread of infection, knowledge of precaution standards and hygiene, and risk of disease in invasive procedures. The present study reported that MIPs have moderate knowledge and precautionary standards toward the HCIAs in the RD. However, due to the limited studies published in the literature, the outcome of the current review may limit the application of the outcome results in the vast MIPs population worldwide. This review recommended further qualitative and quantitative studies to be conducted among imaging professionals worldwide to discern the actual knowledge and precaution standards regarding HCIAs.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization: S.S. (Suresh Sukumar), R.K. and K.V.; methodology, R.K., W.D. and S.S. (Suresh Sukumar); software, N.C.P., V.T.N. and T.B.; validation, R.N.; formal analysis R.K., W.D. and S.S. (Shovan Saha); writing original draft—R.K. and S.S. (Suresh Sukumar), writing review—R.K., W.D. and S.R.; supervision R.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

**Data Availability Statement:** The data for this review is available in "Sukumar, Suresh, 2022, Knowledge of Medical Imaging Professionals on Healthcare-Associated Infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis, https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/OTG4YZ".

**Acknowledgments:** We would like to thank the following people for their assistance in the production of this report: Hari Prakash. P., Department of Speech and Hearing Manipal College of Health Professionals, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576 104, Karnataka, India for his assistance in data extraction. Baskaran Chandrasekaran, HOD-In charge, Department of Exercise and Sports Sciences and Coordinator, Center for Sports Science, Medicine and Research Manipal College of Health Professions Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka for his for their help in the search for files. Poovitha Shruthi P., Division of Yoga Center for Integrative Medicine and Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education Manipal, Karnataka 576104 for their comments on the final draft. Abhimanyu Pradhan, Radiological Safety Officer, Department of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576 104, Karnataka, India for the comments and inputs. Nagarajan. T, PhD Scholar Visual Neurosciences, Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)), Manipal 576 104, Karnataka, India for his comments on the final draft. Guruprasad V, Department of Occupational Therapy, Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP) at Manipal

Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)), Manipal 576 104, Karnataka, India for his assistance in data extraction and comments on the final draft. Pradeep Yuvaraj, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology G14, OPD Block, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Hosur Road/Marigowda Road, (Lakkasandra, Wilson Garden), Bangalore 560029, Karnataka, India for his assistance in the data extraction, valuable inputs and motivation during the review process.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. All co-authors have seen and agree with the manuscript's contents, and there is no financial interest to report. We certify that the submission is original work and is not under review at any other publication.
