Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving healthcare treatment for other conditions. They are considered as a serious problem in the healthcare services as they are common causes of illness and mortality among patients.
Methodology
Study was designed as a cross-sectional study to assess knowledge toward infection control among health care workers and study the relationship between demographic characteristics and working. It was conducted in all the 4 hospitals operating in Mina during Hajj 1434. All the health care workers (HCWs) including physicians, nurses and other paramedics working in these hospitals were considered as study population, there were a total of 1885 HCWs working in these hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to assess the level of knowledge regarding HAI among these HCWs.
Results
Total of 256 HCW participated in the study from four hospitals in Mina, among the total participants 98 (38.3%) were physicians, 125 (48.8%) were nurses and 33 (12.9%) were paramedics. 232 (91.7%) respondents correctly identified respiratory infection as the most common group of HAI. 113 (44.5%) correctly identified hands as the most common vehicle of transmission. 107 (41.6%) correctly identified ICU department most health care associated infection in developed countries; only 66 (26.1%) correctly identified Surgical department most health care associated infection in developing countries. about hand hygiene issues, 117 (46.6%) correctly responded that alcohol based hand rub should be applied for 20-30 seconds. 249 (98.0%) respondents knew that needle stick or sharp injuries have to be documented and reported to infection control immediately. knowledge was compared between genders 61.9% of male HCWs had satisfactory knowledge as compared to 55.7% of the females, but the difference was statistically not significant (P = 0.175). Based on their profession 75.5% of physicians, 51.2% of nurses and 42.4% of paramedics had satisfactory knowledge, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.0001). There was no significant difference between the knowledge of HCW based on receiving infection prevention policy or reading infection control posters displayed in hospital.
Conclusion
Knowledge of most of the HCWs was satisfactory in general with some weak areas like recognition of hands as the most common vehicle of transmission, duration of application of alcohol based hand rub and need of gloves for removal of intravenous line. Knowledge score had a statistically significant association with the profession and nationality; and a borderline association with attending lecture on infection control.