Knowledge and Practice of Medical Technologists on COVID-19 Infection Prevention in Laboratory

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory condition caused by a virus and it is declared at pandemic condition. Health sector faced challenged and medical technologists are direct contact of infected patients and sample. Objective: The study was to assess the knowledge and practice of medical technologists on COVID-19 infection prevention in laboratory in tertiary level hospital and institute Dhaka city. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among purposive selected 221 medical technologists working in six hospital and institute (public hospital & public institute) in Bangladesh. Data were collected by self-administrated structure questionnaire. Results: The study n-221 revealed that 100% respondents had knowledge about doing and doffing of PPE, 100% of the respondents had known that RT-PCR was confirm test for COVID-19 infection, 100% of the respondents had known about caused of COVID-19 by virus, 75.1% of the respondents were not getting training about COVID-19 sample packaging and 64.3% of the respondents were not getting training in laboratory safety against COVID-19 infection. Around 99.5% of respondents use color code bin for waste disposal, around 99.5% of the respondents were used respiratory safety cabinet and highest 96.8% of the respondents were used PPE during samples processing. Conclusion: Through periodic training and motivation, adequate supply of resources and infection prevention materials, quarantine facility for medical technologists should be available in hospital and institute that can improve overall knowledge and practice on COVID-19 infection prevention of medical technologists.