Nurses' Practices Toward Applying Infection Control Measures Using NOTICE Checklists at a Dialysis Unit

Abstract

BackgroundPatients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy and health-care providers at unique, complex units such as hemodialysis outpatient clinics are susceptible for health care-associated infection. Nurses' compliance to follow infection control measures reduces transmission of infection.AimThe study aimed to evaluate the nurses' practices toward applying infection control measures at a dialysis unit.Methods and DesignA cross-sectional study was applied to evaluate nurses' performance toward application of infection control measures using National Opportunity to Improve Infection Control in End-stage renal disease (NOTICE) checklists at a dialysis unit in Beni-Suef City, Egypt.ResultsThe overall nurses' performance regarding infection control at enrolled dialysis units were: the percentage of all NOTICE checklists demonstrated that half of nurses had met most steps for checklist #1c Access of AV Fistula or Graft for Initiation of Dialysis (55.87%), ICE Checklist #2: Parenteral Medication Preparation and Administration (48.13%), and ICE Checklist #3b: Access of AV Fistula or Graft for Termination of Dialysis and Post Dialysis Access Care (48.1%); the lowest level of performance found was ICE Checklist #1b: Central Venous Catheter (CVC) Exit Site Care (22.8%). In addition, the first and second observations noticed that nurses ignore hand hygiene, and were not committed to wearing clean gloves as needed.ConclusionBased on the findings of this study, using of NOTICE assessment checklists and highlighting the importance of developing and following strict infection control systems at dialysis units focuses on nursing staff to prevent infection transmission especially, with chronic patients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy.