KNOWLEDGE OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROLAMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Authors: Rathi Ambika , M Peters Ameetha , Rathee Deepika , Chauhan Kajol 
Published: December 2024

Background: Healthcare-acquired infections (HCAIs), often referred to as nosocomial infections, contribute to higher morbidity and mortality
rates in hospitalized patients and elevate the risk of infections among healthcare workers (HCWs). The risk of hospital-acquired infections
continues to be a concern, even with advancements in the healthcare system. Insufficient knowledge of infection control practices among
healthcare workers leads to lower adherence to these protocols. We conducted a study to evaluate the understanding of infection control measures
among nursing professionals at our hospital. Methods: Atotal of 100 nurses working in the intensive and acute care units at our hospital completed
a questionnaire containing 20 multiple-choice questions. This included 5 questions each on hand hygiene, standard and transmission-based
precautions, care bundles, and general infection control practices. The responses were evaluated and expressed as percentages. Results: The study
sample consisted of 250 individuals aged 20-60 years, with the majority (40.8%) aged 31-40 years. Females represented 43.2% of the population,
while males made up 56.8%. Regarding years of service, 31.2% of respondents had more than 15 years of experience, while 27.2% had 10-15 years,
25.2% had 5-10 years, and 16.4% had less than 5 years of service. Most respondents (58.4%) worked in wards, while 11.2% were in operating
theaters (OT), 8.0% in outpatient departments (OPD), and 22.4% in other departments. A significant majority (94.0%) consistently discarded
biomedical waste according to guidelines, though 4.8% reported only sometimes following the guidelines. When asked about training for
biomedical waste disposal, 51.6% indicated they received training regularly, while 38.8% sometimes received it, and a small percentage (0.8%)
never received training. In terms of hand hygiene, 89.6% always washed their hands after patient contact, while 9.6% sometimes did. Additionally,
87.6% always wore gloves when handling blood samples, and 93.6% did so for saliva or sputum samples. Similarly, 92.0% consistently wore
gloves when handling patient skin breaches. Regarding the disposal of different types of medical waste, most respondents (88.8%) correctly
disposed of surgical blades in white bins, and 64.8% discarded broken ampoules in blue bins. For blood bags, 35.6% used red bins, which aligns
with guidelines. Additionally, 74.8% of participants practiced both medical and surgical handwashing. In terms of infection knowledge, 96.0%
correctly identified all types of infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoa), and 92.4% understood that hospital-acquired microorganisms
could be transmitted through various routes, including air and droplets. To prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), 84.4% of
respondents used gloves, while 69.2% indicated masks were appropriate for preventing communicable infections. Conclusion: The nurses
demonstrated a reasonably good level of knowledge regarding infection control; however, there remains significant room for improvement through
ongoing educational programs and in-house training.