Assessment of Nurses’ Knowledge and Compliance with Infection Control Practices in Healthcare Settings
Abstract
Prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is an essential element of patient safety and quality care provision by nurses since the prevention of infections is a core aspect of quality healthcare delivery. In this research paper, the researcher will explore the knowledge and practice of nurses focused on infection control measures and how this relates to the factors that affect the compliance of nurses in clinical settings. The study also demonstrates the main points of infection prevention such as hand hygiene, wearing of personal protective gear, safe injection, cleaning of the environment and following isolation precautions. It also compares the relationship between the knowledge of nurses with the real clinical practice and the role of training, monitoring, and organizational support on compliance to infection control. So-called barriers to efficient implementation, including workload, resource constraint and lack of training are addressed. The results focus on the fact that sufficient knowledge is necessary, but must be supplemented with ongoing learning, mentoring, and organizational policies to become effective practice. The prevention of HAIs via strengthened infection control programs by providing specific training on the topic and supportive healthcare systems can contribute greatly to reducing HAIs and improving patient safety. The author highlights the significance of incorporating infection control concepts into nursing practice, learning, and policy-making to facilitate safe and of quality healthcare settings.
Full text article
References
Ali, M., Wang, W., Chaudhry, N., & Geng, Y. (2017). Hospital waste management in developing countries: A mini review. Waste Management & Research, 35(6), 581–592. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X17691344
Thakur, V., & Ramesh, A. (2017). Healthcare waste disposal strategy selection using grey-AHP approach. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 24(2), 470–488. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-06-2015-0059
Manzoor, J., & Sharma, M. (2019). Impact of biomedical waste on environment and human health. Environmental Claims Journal, 31(4), 311–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/10406026.2019.1619277
Akkajit, P., Romin, H., & Assawadithalerd, M. (2020). Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice in respect of medical waste management among healthcare workers in clinics. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2020, 8745472. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8745472
Hooshmand, S., Kargozar, S., Ghorbani, A., Darroudi, M., Keshavarz, M., Baino, F., & Kim, H. W. (2020). Biomedical waste management by using nanophotocatalysts: The need for new options. Materials, 13(16), 3511. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163511
Patil, P. M., & Bohara, R. A. (2020). Nanoparticles impact in biomedical waste management. Waste Management & Research, 38(11), 1189–1203. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X20931911
Khalid, S., Haq, N., Sabiha, Z. U., Latif, A., Khan, M. A., Iqbal, J., & Yousaf, N. (2021). Current practices of waste management in teaching hospitals and presence of incinerators in densely populated areas. BMC Public Health, 21, 1340. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11311-1
World Health Organization. (2023). Key facts and figures on health care-associated infections (HAIs): High-level messaging on the HAI and AMR burden. World Health Organization.
Siddiqui, A. H., Umair, R., & Ahmad, J. (2023). Need for infection prevention and control curriculum for nursing in developing countries. Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 71(2), 108–109.
World Health Organization. (2024). Infection prevention and control in-service education and training curriculum. World Health Organization.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). CDC’s core infection prevention and control practices for safe healthcare delivery in all settings. CDC.
Singh, H., Jaiswal, A., Tiwari, R., & Gupta, N. (2024). Harnessing the foundation of biomedical waste management for fostering public health. Discover Applied Sciences, 4, 5735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-024-05735-4
Alrubaiee, G., Baharom, A., Shahar, H. K., Daud, S. H., & Basaleem, H. O. (2017). Knowledge and practices of nurses regarding nosocomial infection control measures in private hospitals in Sana’a City, Yemen. Safety and Health, 3, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40886-017-0063-6
Desta, M., Ayenew, T., Sitotaw, N., Tegegne, N., Dires, M., & Getie, M. (2018). Knowledge, practice and associated factors of infection prevention among healthcare workers in Debre Markos referral hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Health Services Research, 18, 465. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3277-5
Geberemariyam, B. S., Donka, G. M., & Wordofa, B. (2018). Assessment of knowledge and practices of healthcare workers towards infection prevention and associated factors in healthcare facilities of West Arsi District, Southeast Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study. Archives of Public Health, 76, 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-018-0314-0
Hammerschmidt, J., & Manser, T. (2019). Nurses’ knowledge, behaviour and compliance concerning hand hygiene in nursing homes: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study. BMC Health Services Research, 19, 547. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4347-x
Zhu, S., Kahsay, K. M., & Gui, L. (2019). Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to standard precautions among nurses: A comparative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(19–20), 3538–3546. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14970
Gomarverdi, S., Khatiban, M., Bikmoradi, A., & Soltanian, A. R. (2019). Effects of a multi-component educational intervention on nurses’ knowledge and adherence to standard precautions in intensive care units. Journal of Infection Prevention, 20(2), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757177418821811
Elbilgahy, A. A., Davidson, P. M., & Sharps, P. W. (2019). Evidence-based educational intervention for nurses about prevention of central line associated blood stream infection. Middle East Journal of Nursing, 13(1), 3–16.
Acharya, R., Mishra, S. B., Ipsita, S., & Azim, A. (2019). Impact of nursing education on CLABSI rates: An experience from a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 23(7), 316–319. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23192
Gupta, R., Sharma, S., Yadav, A., et al. (2020). A multicentric study to ascertain knowledge, attitude and practices for infection prevention and control amongst nurses. Journal of Patient Safety and Infection Control, 8, 21–28.
Kakkar, S. K., Bala, M., & Arora, V. (2021). Educating nursing staff regarding infection control practices and assessing its impact on the incidence of hospital-acquired infections. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 10, 40. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_304_20
Maki, G., & Zervos, M. (2021). Health care–acquired infections in low- and middle-income countries and the role of infection prevention and control. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 35(4), 827–839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2021.07.004
Sodhi, K., Arya, M., Chanchalani, G., et al. (2022). Comparison of knowledge and awareness of infection control practices among nurses in India: A cross-sectional survey. American Journal of Infection Control, 50(12), 1368–1373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.06.015
Thazha, S. K., Cruz, J. P., Alquwez, N., Scaria, B., Rengan, S. S., & Almazan, J. U. (2022). Infection prevention and control awareness, attitudes, and practices among healthcare professionals in South India. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 16(4), 659–667. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.15528
Yu, T., Zhang, X., Wang, Q., Zheng, F., & Wang, L. (2022). Communication openness and nosocomial infection reporting: The mediating role of team cohesion. BMC Health Services Research, 22, 1416. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08646-3
Prevyzi, E., Patrinos, S., Intas, G., Elefsiniotis, I., Velonakis, E., & Grapsa, E. (2023). Perceptions of teamwork and knowledge attitudes of hemodialysis unit nurses on infection prevention. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1425, 555–565. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17989-7_56
Fitria, N., Yulianita, H., Sugiharto, F., Astari, D. W., & Eriyani, T. (2023). The factors associated with performance among infection prevention and control linked nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. SAGE Open Nursing, 9, 23779608231193911. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608231193911
Dewi, L., Hamid, A. Y., & Sekarsari, R. (2023). Experiences of infection prevention and control nurses in performing their roles and duties in the Indonesia Army Central Hospital: A qualitative descriptive study. Belitung Nursing Journal, 9(2), 145–151. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.2522
Ayed, A., Malak, M. Z., Ayed, M., Allayed, R., & Shouli, M. (2024). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward infection control precautions among nurses in Palestinian hospitals. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 21. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2023-0074
Alshagrawi, S., & Alhodaithy, N. (2024). Risk factors of healthcare-associated infection among healthcare workers in intensive care units: A multicenter cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 19(1), e0294037. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294037
Elhabashy, S., Moawad, A., & Gaber, S. (2024). Incidence of hospital-acquired infections among healthcare workers in Egypt before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 30(9), 612–621. https://doi.org/10.26719/emhj.24.045
Au, J. K. L., Suen, L. K. P., & Lam, S. C. (2021). Observational study of compliance with infection control practices among healthcare workers in subsidized and private residential care homes. BMC Infectious Diseases, 21, 75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-05777-3
Atif, S., Lorcy, A., & Dubé, E. (2019). Healthcare workers’ attitudes toward hand hygiene practices: Results of a multicentre qualitative study in Quebec. Canadian Journal of Infection Control, 34(1), 41–48.
Browne, K., & Mitchell, B. G. (2023). Multimodal environmental cleaning strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 12, 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01267-1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Infection control basics: Standard precautions for all patient care.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Infection control basics: Transmission-based precautions.
Gould, D. J., Creedon, S., Jeanes, A., Drey, N. S., Chudleigh, J., & Moralejo, D. (2017). Impact of observing hand hygiene in practice and research: A methodological reconsideration. Journal of Hospital Infection, 95(2), 169–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2016.11.006
Gould, D., Purssell, E., Jeanes, A., Drey, N., Chudleigh, J., & McKnight, J. (2022). The problem with “My Five Moments for Hand Hygiene”. BMJ Quality & Safety, 31(4), 322–326. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2021-013593
Haile, T. G., Engeda, E. H., & Abdo, A. A. (2017). Compliance with standard precautions and associated factors among healthcare workers in Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2017, Article 2050635. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2050635
Ilyas, F., Burbridge, B., & Babyn, P. (2019). Health care-associated infections and the radiology department. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 50(4), 596–606.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2019.07.003
Jimenez, Y. A., & Lewis, S. J. (2023). Infection prevention and control in the medical imaging environment: A scoping review. Insights into Imaging, 14, 121. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-023-01447-0
Jiang, L., Ng, I. H. L., Hou, Y., Li, D., Tan, L. W. L., Ho, H. J. A., et al. (2018). Infectious disease transmission: Survey of contacts between hospital-based healthcare workers and working adults from the general population. Journal of Hospital Infection, 98(4), 404–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.01.017
Lam, S. C., Cheung, M. M. F., Au, J. K. L., & Suen, L. K. P. (2021). Bioluminescence-based hygiene evaluation of public washroom environment. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(6), 746–752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.11.013
Lau, L. H. W., Lam, Q. S. K., Siu, M. M. Y., Tang, T. S. K., Suen, L. K. P., & Lam, S. C. (2024). Compliance of healthcare workers in a psychiatric inpatient ward to infection control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Infectious Diseases, 24, 592. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09467-9
Lindberg, M., Skytt, B., & Lindberg, M. (2020). Continued wearing of gloves: A risk behaviour in patient care. Infection Prevention in Practice, 2(2), 100091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infpip.2020.100091
Sands, M., & Aunger, R. (2020). Determinants of hand hygiene compliance among nurses in US hospitals: A formative research study. PLOS ONE, 15(5), e0230573. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230573
Smith, J. D., Corace, K. M., MacDonald, T. K., Fabrigar, L. R., Saedi, A., Chaplin, A., et al. (2019). Application of the Theoretical Domains Framework to identify factors that influence hand hygiene compliance in long-term care. Journal of Hospital Infection, 101(4), 393–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.12.021
Stahmeyer, J. T., Lutze, B., von Lengerke, T., Chaberny, I. F., & Krauth, C. (2017). Hand hygiene in intensive care units: A matter of time? Journal of Hospital Infection, 95(4), 338–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2016.12.004
Suleyman, G., Alangaden, G., & Bardossy, A. C. (2018). The role of environmental contamination in the transmission of nosocomial pathogens and healthcare-associated infections. Current Infectious Disease Reports, 20, 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-018-0611-2
Tartari, E., Pires, D., & Pittet, D. (2018). “One size does not fit all”: Customizing hand hygiene agents, messages, and interventions. Journal of Hospital Infection, 98(4), 324–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.01.012
van Seventer, J. M., & Hochberg, N. S. (2017). Principles of infectious diseases: Transmission, diagnosis, prevention, and control. In International Encyclopedia of Public Health (pp. 22–39). Elsevier.
Authors
Copyright (c) 2024 Adel Mohammad Almasned, shatha jamaan Albishi, Amal Muidh Basheer, Arif Thulhub Shifaa Alruwaili, Hassan Ahmed Ibrahim Ghareeb, Abdulaziz Abdullah Alammari, Nouf mosfer alshahrani, Njood Milfi Alanazi , Ohoud Abdulrahman oallehedan, Maged Aedh Abdullah Alzahrani, Sultana Saqi Alanazi, Amal Muidh Basheer, Ahmed Naji Alsahabi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
