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Article Published In Vol.10 (Nov-Dec 2022)

Practice of Infection Prevention and Control among Health Workers in a Tertiary Referral Centre in Enugu, Nigeria

Pages : 584-589, DOI: https://doi.org/10.14741/ijmcr/v.10.6.8

Author : G.U. Emerole, C. G. Emerole, C. O. Emerole and U. E. Ezeoke

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Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) also known as hospital acquired infections (HAI) are a common global challenge mainly in low and middle-income countries.
Objectives: This study on practice of infection prevention and control among health workers in a tertiary referral centre in Enugu, Nigeria is aimed at investigating the latest trends in infection control measures in developing countries.
Methods: A total of 251 subjects comprising 115 Doctors, 51 Nurses/Midwives, 39 Medical Laboratory scientists, 14 Physiotherapists and 32 Hospital orderlies in the various duty posts of the hospital: clinics, wards, theatre and emergency room, who have worked for at least a year at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH). Data collection was via a well-structured questionnaire in subjective and objective format.
Results: Doctors and Nurses comprised a significant percentage of respondents at 45.8% and 20.3% respectively. Also, a majority of the respondents were workers who had worked at the institution for 5 years or less (64.9%). An overwhelming majority practiced proper hand hygiene (94.0%) and disinfection of surfaces and hospital equipment. However, the proportion of workers practicing barrier nursing was on the low side (47.0%). On assessment of disposal of needles and other sharps, 11.6% dispose them in waste bags and nylons, 56.2% put used needles in a puncture resistant container, while 22.3% recap and bend used needles to avoid unwanted exposure.
Conclusion: This study has shown that health care workers largely practice and observe infection control measures; however, there are certain deficiencies in the way sharps and other medical wastes are disposed. There also appears to be a scarcity of essential protective gear like goggles and alcoholic hand gels and this may predispose workers to infection. It is recommended that adequate funding for equipment, staff and patient education should be initiated to protect patients and health care workers.

Keywords: Health-care-associated-infections (HCAIs), Hospital-Acquired-Infection (HAI), Prevention-Control-Practice, Health-care-workers (HCWs)

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