Prevention and Control Measures toward Hospital-Acquired Infections among Patients, Relatives, and Health Professionals in Tertiary Health-care System

Abstract

Background: Nurses, as well as other health workers, have an important role to play toward preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among the patients and themselves. The most important and basic techniques in the prevention and control of infection transmission are hand washing. Objectives: The study was aimed to investigate measures utilized by health-care professionals, in the prevention and control of nosocomial infections in the selected health facility. Materials and Methods: A descriptive questionnaire was designed and used to identify and describe the measures and role of health-care professionals in the prevention and control of HAI in the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. One hundred and fifteen nurses were selected at random among the health facilities to partake in the survey. Results: Respondents had good knowledge on the transmission and prevention of HAIs and that universal precaution must be employed in all aspects of patient care. All nurses strongly agreed that gloves do not transmit pathogens that cause HAIs and 88.7% of the respondents strongly disagreed that over diluted solutions are effective in decontamination as long as instruments are soaked for long periods, nurses that participated in the survey demonstrates a very good attitude towards the prevention of nosocomial infections. Some showed that personal protective equipment reduced their efficiency during procedures. Conclusion: Nosocomial infections complicate patient care and prolong the stay of patients in hospitals. The provision of safe care through the acquired knowledge and demonstration of a positive attitude will promote the preventive measures and subsequent incidence of HAIs.