Hand washing for health-care workers in domestic care settings

The use of artificial nails has become a popular fashion trend, and many health care workers are following this trend. There is debate whether artificial nails are putting patients at risk of nosocomial infections. Researchers have shown that the colony counts on artificial nails are greater than the colony counts on native nails. Artificial nails have also been linked to poor hand washing practices and more tears in gloves. These factors lead to an increased risk of transmitting bacteria to patients. This transmission could greatly affect patients because the hospitalized patient's risk of nosocomial infection is high. The purpose of this article is to review the data related to the bacterial and fungal contamination of artificial nails and their implications for health care workers. Most of the review describes findings of studies of surgical patients and health care workers who work in surgery departments, but the research applies to any area where there is a risk of transferring potential pathogens to immunocompromised patients.

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COVID-19–Related Knowledge and Practices Among Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.21220 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Talal Ahmad Shaikhain ◽

Faisal Abdulmohsen Al-Husayni ◽

Essam Awadh Alhejaili ◽

Maha Nawaf Al-Harbi ◽

Anas Abdullah Bogari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Face Mask ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Disease Spread ◽

Questionnaire Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers

BACKGROUND Health care workers are at the front line against COVID-19. The risk of transmission decreases with adequate knowledge of infection prevention methods. However, health care workers reportedly lack a proper attitude and knowledge of different viral outbreaks. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of health care workers in Saudi Arabia toward COVID-19. Assessment of these parameters may help researchers focus on areas that require improvement. METHODS A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 563 participants recruited from multiple cities in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was shared via social media applications, which contained questions to health care workers about general information regarding COVID-19 and standard practices. RESULTS The mean age of the study population was 30.7 (SD 8) years. Approximately 8.3% (47/563) of the health care workers were isolated as suspected cases of COVID-19, and 0.9% (n=5) were found positive. The majority agreed that social distancing, face masks, and hand washing are effective methods for preventing disease transmission. However, only 63.7% (n=359) knew the correct duration of hand washing. Almost 70% (n=394) strictly adhered to hand hygiene practices, but less than half complied with the practice of wearing a face mask. Significant differences in health care workers' attitudes were observed on the basis of their city of residence, their adherence to COVID-19 practices, and their compliance with the use of a face mask. Among the health care workers, 27.2% (n=153) declared that they will isolate themselves at home and take influenza medication if they experience COVID-19 symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The majority of health care workers in Saudi Arabia presented acceptable levels of general knowledge on COVID-19, but they lack awareness in some crucial details that may prevent disease spread. Intense courses and competency assessments are highly recommended. Prevention of disease progression is the only option for the time being.

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Assessment of the level of adherence of health care workers to workplace safety measures provided at the Enugu state university teaching hospital Enugu, Nigeria

World Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical and Medical Research ◽

10.53346/wjapmr.2021.1.2.0023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 001-006

Author(s):

Onoh Linus UM

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Teaching Hospital ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Workplace Safety ◽

Hand Washing ◽

University Teaching ◽

State University ◽

Safety Measures ◽

Care Workers ◽

Enugu State

Aim: To assess the level of adherence of healthcare workers to workplace safety measures provided at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu Nigeria. Method: A total of 350 health care workers of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTTH) were used for the cross-sectional study which took place between February and August 2019. Basic information like age, sex and duration of work in the hospital were taken. Finally their levels of adherence to the safety measures provided in the hospital were assessed. Results: The greatest number of respondents fell within the age group 26-35years (40.9%) and the gender distribution showed that 54.6% were female workers. The greatest proportion of the respondents indicated that they have worked in the hospital between 1 -5years (31.1%). Lastly assessment of adherence indicated 67.2% comply with the instructions on hand-washing.70.3% use gloves when making physical contact with patients. 50.6% claimed that they have an occupational/environmental health policy in their departments. 80.9% use bleach/disinfectants to clean up spillages and other hazardous substances. 52% have knowledge of segregation of healthcare waste. 60.3% engage in routine screening for blood-borne diseases e.g. HIV, Hepatitis B and C. while 57.3% said that they undergo routine medical checkup annually. Conclusion: Most of the respondents were young adults 26-35years who had worked in the hospital between 1- 5years due to the fact that the teaching hospital had not been in existence for too long. Majority of the respondents (>50% in each case) have a good adherence to the safety measures i.e. hand-washing, use of disinfectants, segregation of hospital waste, and routine screening and regular medical checkups. This situation has been responsible for the maintenance of a very low rate of hospital transmitted (Nosocomial) infections in ESUT Teaching Hospital Enugu.

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Importance of hand germ contamination in health-care workers as possible carriers of nosocomial infections

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46652001000300006 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 149-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mónica NOGUERAS ◽

Nicolás MARINSALTA ◽

Mauricio ROUSSELL ◽

Rodolfo NOTARIO

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Physical Examination ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Care Workers ◽

Before And After ◽

Potential Pathogen ◽

Group A ◽

Group B ◽

Number Of Bacteria

The importance of hands in the transmission of nosocomial infection has been world wide admitted. However, it is difficult to induce this behavior in health-care workers. The aim of the present work was to point out the importance of hand bacteria colonization, the influence of hand washing and of patient physical examination. One hundred health-care workers were randomly divided in two groups: Group A without hand washing previous to patient physical examination or handling (PPE); group B with hand washing previous to PPE. Direct fingerprint samples in Columbia agar before and after PPE were obtained. The colonies were counted and identified by conventional techniques, and antibiograms according to NCCLS were performed. Before PPE group A participants showed a high number of bacteria regarding group B participants (73.9 Vs 20.7; p < 0.001); 44 out of 50 participants were carriers of potentially pathogen bacteria. No group B participants were carriers of potential pathogen bacteria before PPE. The latter group showed an increase in number of bacteria after PPE (20.7 CFU (before) Vs 115.9 CFU (after); p < 0.001). Sixteen group B participants were contaminated after PPE with potential pathogens such as S. aureus (50% of them meticillin resistant); Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis, half of them multiresistant. We can conclude on the importance of these results to implement educational programs and to provide the health-care workers with the proper commodities to fulfill this practice.

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COVID-19–Related Knowledge and Practices Among Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

JMIR Formative Research ◽

10.2196/21220 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e21220

Author(s):

Talal Ahmad Shaikhain ◽

Faisal Abdulmohsen Al-Husayni ◽

Essam Awadh Alhejaili ◽

Maha Nawaf Al-Harbi ◽

Anas Abdullah Bogari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Face Mask ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Disease Spread ◽

Questionnaire Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Workers

Background Health care workers are at the front line against COVID-19. The risk of transmission decreases with adequate knowledge of infection prevention methods. However, health care workers reportedly lack a proper attitude and knowledge of different viral outbreaks. Objective This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of health care workers in Saudi Arabia toward COVID-19. Assessment of these parameters may help researchers focus on areas that require improvement. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 563 participants recruited from multiple cities in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was shared via social media applications, which contained questions to health care workers about general information regarding COVID-19 and standard practices. Results The mean age of the study population was 30.7 (SD 8) years. Approximately 8.3% (47/563) of the health care workers were isolated as suspected cases of COVID-19, and 0.9% (n=5) were found positive. The majority agreed that social distancing, face masks, and hand washing are effective methods for preventing disease transmission. However, only 63.7% (n=359) knew the correct duration of hand washing. Almost 70% (n=394) strictly adhered to hand hygiene practices, but less than half complied with the practice of wearing a face mask. Significant differences in health care workers' attitudes were observed on the basis of their city of residence, their adherence to COVID-19 practices, and their compliance with the use of a face mask. Among the health care workers, 27.2% (n=153) declared that they will isolate themselves at home and take influenza medication if they experience COVID-19 symptoms. Conclusions The majority of health care workers in Saudi Arabia presented acceptable levels of general knowledge on COVID-19, but they lack awareness in some crucial details that may prevent disease spread. Intense courses and competency assessments are highly recommended. Prevention of disease progression is the only option for the time being.

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Hand Hygiene: Knowledge and Practice among Healthcare Workers in the Paediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jammr/2021/v33i230804 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 23-33

Author(s):

Peter Appiah-Thompson ◽

Josephine Ashong

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Hand Hygiene ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Hygiene Practice ◽

Cape Coast ◽

Poor Knowledge ◽

Care Workers

Aims: To assess the knowledge of hand hygiene among health care workers in the Paediatrics Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH). To determine the hand hygiene practice among health care workers. To determine the barriers to hand washing practices in the Paediatrics Department. Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was done. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics between 14th February, 2020 to 12th March ,2020 Methodology: 81 health workers including 31 doctors and 50 nurses (35 working nurses and 15 nursing students) who have direct contact to patients on the wards were included in the study. A World Health Organization (WHO) adopted self-administered questionnaire on hand hygiene was used. Results: From the study, 75.3% of the respondents had fair knowledge on hand hygiene and 24.7% also had poor knowledge. Most doctors generally had a better knowledge of hand hygiene whilst nurses generally had poor knowledge. With a p-value of 0.002, a statistical association was found between having received formal education and the performance of routine hand hygiene practices. Some barriers affecting hand hygiene practice included forgetfulness, lack of time and lack of alcohol-based hand rub. Conclusion: In conclusion, most of the health care workers had a fair knowledge on hand hygiene with a few having poor knowledge. Majority of health care workers reported they routinely use hand washing and alcohol hand rub in their daily practice. Regular education and practice of hand hygiene are essential to prevention of spread of diseases especially during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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