Practical Training on Nosocomial Infections in a Hospital Environment

Abstract

Hygienic care of health facilities is an important topic in the pre-graduate education of medical students. During practical sessions students obtain theoretical and practical knowledge about the problems of nosocomial and iatrogenic infections. The aim of the present study was to find out how well the students have understood the problems of risk factors, origins and spread of disease and their influence on both patients and hospital personnel. The major task was to evaluate the students theoretical knowledge and practical skills in hygienic care of health facilities and to improve procedures presented in further education. A questionnaire was prepared suitable for groups of 7–8 students, assessing the level of hygiene in a hospital ward in conformity with the Ministry of Health Law (1995) concerning operation and hygiene requirements in health facilities. The sample studied comprised 200 respondents, students of general medicine in the fourth course of their study and 37 departments in the hospital wards of faculty hospitals. In completing the questionnaire students noted, on a five point scale, that more than 50% of most hygiene procedures were always done showing that the principles of preventive measures against nosocomial infections were properly observed in selected hospital wards. In a “field visit” to a hospital ward practical tasks were performed that included assessment and evaluation of the microclimate, intrusive noise and microbial contamination of the indoor air. Results varied from ward to ward. Contamination was worse in internal and neurological departments, it was better in surgical and psychiatric departments. The most frequent nosocomial infections were respiratory and urological infections.