Assessment of Implementation of Occupational Infection Prevention of The Employee Wellness Program among a Group Of Healthcare Workers in Pediatrics Hospital of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed every day to multiple occupational hazards, the most common being the risk of exposure to occupational infections. Occupational infection prevention of the healthcare workers is a substantial issue not only to protect them, but also to protect their patients. If the risk posed by infection in health care workers is not recognized and addressed, there is the potential for large outbreaks of infection among staff and patients. Aim of Study Assessment of implementation of occupational infection prevention of the employee wellness program among healthcare workers in pediatrics hospital of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Subjects and Methods A descriptive study was conducted and a structured self-administered aided questionnaire was used to collect data from 110 healthcare workers in the pediatrics hospital at Ain Shams University in Cairo to assess the pre-employment procedures, investigations, infection control training provided by the hospital and post exposure management procedure. Results Around half of the participants (48.2%) reported that they had undergone the pre-employment screening procedures. The majority of participants (85.4%) received infection control training at the hospital. Most of the participants didn’t receive the appropriate management after needle stick injury. Conclusion and Recommendations the current system followed in the Pediatrics hospital does not adequately implement all of the essential elements of the employee wellness program and needs to be improved. Co-ordination between the occupational health unit and infection control department should be done to improve the implementation of other elements of the employee wellness program to protect healthcare workers from occupational infections.