scholarly journals Exposure to Occupational-related Blood and Fluids Infections, Accidental Injuries and Precaution Practices among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in South-West, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 43-59
Author(s):  
Adetoun A.O. ◽  
Olanrewaju A.I. ◽  
Temidayo O.A. ◽  
Oluwasayo B.O.

Background and Aim: Healthcare workers are at risk of infections from blood-borne pathogens due to percutaneous injuries from sharps, mucous membrane and skin exposures to contaminated blood and bodily fluids. The study, therefore, investigated exposure to occupational-related blood and fluids infections, accidental injuries and precaution practices among health care workers in a tertiary hospital in South-West, Nigeria. Methods: The study utilised a cross-sectional research design requiring a structured questionnaire to elicit data from medical doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists/technologists. Through the convenience sampling technique, 266 respondents were selected for the study. Non-parametric descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data with the level of significance of the chi-square test put at 5%. Results: The overwhelming majority (76%) of the health care workers at the hospital are of the female gender. The study found that the majority of the respondents (92%) were trained on infection control in the course of their career while virtually all of them (98%) had never contracted an occupational-related infection. Recapping of used needles accounted for 24.4% of activity that predisposed the workers to accidental injuries. Also, there was a significant association between the recapping of needles and the occurrence of accidental injuries (P.V. = 0.000). Meanwhile, the incidence of unreported injuries stood at 70.3% as all the reasons given were significant (P.V. = 0.000) using a one-sample chi-square test. Conclusion: It has been established that prevention practices like training in infection control, adherence to clear work procedures and guidelines, post-exposure prophylaxis and use of personal protective equipment were associated with contraction of occupational-related infections. Moreover, while recapping of used needles was a usual practice in the hospital, it was, however, associated with cases of accidental injuries among most health care workers. Unfortunately, most cases of injuries were unreported due to certain significant reasons.


Author(s):  
O. T. Allen ◽  
I. L. Nwaogazie ◽  
K. Douglas

The hospital is a high risk environment for the transmission of infections to health care workers, visitors, patients and the surrounding community. Healthcare workers are exposed to a variety of hazards which predisposes these “indispensable carers” to various life threatening infections and diseases. This study is aimed at evaluating the occupational hygiene and infection control practices in Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owerri and FMC Yenayoa, both located within southern Nigeria. Descriptive cross sectional study using a structured questionnaire and walk-through safety checklist was employed. A total of 379 healthcare workers were selected through disproportionate stratified sampling from the two facilities. The questionnaires were self-administered and analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. Frequencies, chi-square were computed and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predisposing factors to which health workers are exposed; 60.7% of respondents were male, dominant age group; 30 – 39yrs, nurses represented a larger proportion (34.8%) of healthcare workers in this study; 51.7% and 48.3% of respondents in FMC Yenagoa and FMC Owerri respectively had a good knowledge of hazards and controls. There was a significant difference with chi-square as, 9.710 p-Value <0.008. Good level of attitude was 44.7% in Owerri and 21.2% in Yenagoa, chi-square 18.295 p-Value <0.001. Overall level of occupational hygiene and infection control practices was poor in both facilities. Health care workers had a very high level of exposure to ergonomic hazards (88.9%) and biological hazards 47.6% in Owerri and 55.3% in Yenagoa. Nurses were 5 times more at risk of ergonomic hazards (95%CI) – 5.96 (2.19–16.24)  p-Value < 0.001, while Medical Laboratory scientists were 5 times more at risk of chemical hazards (OR = 5.98, 95CI: 3.05–11.69, p-Value <0.001). The checklist revealed that both facilities were of imminent high risk category. Health care workers at FMC Yenagoa had higher exposures to all five categories of hazards than FMC Owerri. Working in FMC Owerri predisposes workers to higher health hazards than in FMC Yenagoa. There was better administrative controls including trainings and immunizations in FMC Yenagoa than in FMC Owerri.



Author(s):  
Dhaval Dalal ◽  
Kamalpriya Thiyagarajan ◽  
Humeshwari Nipane ◽  
Vijaykumar Gawali

Background: COVID-19 has brought psychological disorders that affect health care workers and the general public. Hence it is important to have necessary counselling to address the psychological, social aspects of the pandemic to ensure psychological well-being of especially Health-care Workers and preserve their innate and acquired immunity.Methods: The study was planned as single centre retrospective study and conducted between April and June 2020 at dedicated COVID-19 hospital in India. Front-line HCWs more than 18 years, of any gender working in COVID-19 hospital and willing to participate for the study were enrolled in the study. Study included two questionnaires, generalized anxiety disorder scale, and socio-demographics and COVID-19 related awareness questionnaire. Measurements were taken pre and post the psychological counselling intervention.Results: As per generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) scale people suffering from moderate anxiety disorder dropped from 19% (pre counselling) to 5% (post counselling) and severe cases dropped from 14% (pre counseling) to 2% (post counseling), there was statistically significant difference observed due to psychological intervention in GAD scale (Chi square test-10.794, p value=3.67E-27). Socio demographics and COVID-19 related awareness questionnaire results were statistically significant (Chi square test-11.945, p value=6.91E-33).Conclusions: Counselling interventions based on scientific data offered in groups by investigator with an accurate knowledge of the COVID-19 and its manifestation increased the confidence of health care workers (HCWs) and reduced anxiety level. This was translated into the full availability of HCWs on the clinical study site, although medical services were disrupted while other hospitals were starving due to lack of staff.



Author(s):  
Leela S. Mundra ◽  
Sadaf Aslam ◽  
Juxia Zhang ◽  
Han Lin ◽  
Peng Xu ◽  
...  

Background: For HIV infected patients, distinct infectious disease hospitals currently exist in China, therefore, attitudes promoting separation within health care settings persist both in healthcare workers and community. The misinformation and fear of infection negatively affect Health Care Workers, (HCWs) attitudes towards caring for patients with HIV. However, the level of knowledge, attitudes, and skills (KAS) towards occupational exposure to HIV and post-exposure standards of care are unknown in Gansu, China. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of health care workers regarding HIV occupational exposure and treatment. We analyzed findings in a total of 324 HCWs through a self-reported questionnaire. Results: HCWs with a higher than average KAS composite score compared to HCWs with a lower KAS score were more likely to be working clinically (p=0.0023), and had completed a university degree or above (p=0.0370). The univariate analysis model also showed additional factors that HCWs having a higher KAS composite score were significantly associated with being a physician (OR 9.22; p=0.045) and receiving formal infection control training (OR 4.20; p<0.0001). Conclusions: Our study provides considerable information on occupational exposure regarding HIV/AIDS in Gansu Province of China. A continuous education is necessary to increase the level of knowledge, attitude and skills of HCWs about the risk of infection at the workplace. With the adoption of standardized occupational exposure protocols and infection control programs, we should be able to reduce barriers of HIV care into general hospital facilities which in turn can modify their attitudes. 



2021 ◽  
pp. 66-70
Author(s):  
Suchismita Koley ◽  
Indraneel Dasgupta

Introduction: The recent corona virus infection is known as sars-cov-2 or covid-19. The infection rst started in the Wuhan province of China and gradually spread to other countries. On March 12th 2020 it was declared as pandemic by WHO. Extraordinary measures are being adopted to combat the formidable spread of the ongoing outbreak. Under such conditions, people's adherence to preventive measures is greatly affected by their awareness of the disease. Aim:To assess the knowledge of preventive measures of Covid-19 disease and its related infection control practices among healthcare workers to minimise the risk of transmission. Material and methods: This is an questionnaire based observational prospective survey on the awareness, knowledge and infection control practices related to Covid 19 infection in the healthcare setting and conducted from May 2020 to September 2020- to collect the data and October 2020 to January 2021 for thesis writing, statistical analysis, discussion and conclusion. This survey involves the doctors, nursing staffs, paramedical staffs, lab technicians and other people who helps in transporting the patients and the people who handles the biomedical wastes. Total 430 participants were taken. Result: Majority of the health care workers were answered that it is caused by virus (89.1%), the virus can spread from one person to another (89.4%), the virus can be prevented (90.4%), symptoms of the virus was not common cold (94.2%), it is not occurred at certain period of the year (84.7%) and the COVID-19 symptoms are worse with any Co morbidity (83.2%). Health care workers were answered that common symptom of this disease is headache (94.7%), Sore throat (91.6%), Vomiting (92.6%), Persistent cough (96.7%), Running nose(92.6%), Sneezing (95.1%), Muscle aches(93.0%), abdominal pain (93.0%), Fever (96.7%), Diarrhea (92.6%) and Feels tired (93.5%). Conclusion: This research was help common men to understand the intensity of infection and its symptoms and precaution. It will help out common people to be aware of the threatens level of virus in society and counsel him that it's with everyone, rather than only with him. We suggested that the knowledge of preventive measures of Covid-19 disease and its related infection control practices among healthcare workers to minimise the risk of transmission.



2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majeed Babajide Adegboye ◽  
Suleiman Zakari ◽  
Bola Abdulkadir Ahmed ◽  
Gbenga Habeeb Olufemi


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-287
Author(s):  
Hussain Y. H. Khnfar ◽  
Dalal A. Thaood ◽  
Ilham O. A. Abdraba ◽  
Intesar N. Omran ◽  
Guma M. K. Abdeldaim

Increasing incidence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a well-documented healthcare and community phenomenon of concern to medical and public health communities all over the world. One of the most important sources of MRSA infection in hospitals is health care workers (HCWs) through nasal or hands carriage. The aim of this study is to determine the rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among HCWs. A cross-sectional study involving 102 HCWs was conducted at Alwahda hospital, Derna. Nasal and hand swabs were collected and cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar. Gram staining was performed on mannitol fermenting colonies. Slide catalase and coagulase were performed to identify S. aureus. An oxacillin and cefoxitin susceptibility test was carried out on Muller Hinton agar using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: out of 102 healthcare workers, 46 (45.1%) carried S. aureus. The rate of methicillin resistance amongst all S. aureus isolates was 47.8 % (22/46) whereas 21.6 % (22/102) of all HCWs were identified as MRSA carriers. Nurses had the highest MRSA carriage with 53%, compared to other HCW. On the other hand, the highest rate of MRSA (75%) was seen in CCU workers followed by workers of pediatric and surgical wards (66%, 62% respectively). The high rate of nasal and hand MRSA carriage among healthcare workers, especially in high-risk wards, indicates the imperfection of infection control measures in our hospitals and the necessity to improve the infection control program.



2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasha H. Bassyouni ◽  
Ahmed-Ashraf Wegdan ◽  
Naglaa A El-Sherbiny

To evaluate the role of educational intervention on health care workers' (HCWs) compliance to standard precautions and cleaning of frequently touched surfaces at critical care units, forty-nine HCWs at 2 intensive care units (ICUs) and one neonatology unit at Fayoum University hospital were evaluated for knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards standard precautions as well as obstacles affecting their compliance to standard precautions before and after a 32-hour purposed-designed infection control education program. A structured self-administrated questionnaire as well as observational checklists were used. Assessment of Environmental cleaning was investigated by observational checklist, ATP bioluminescence and aerobic bacteriological culture for 118 frequently touched surfaces. Pre-intervention assessment revealed that 78.6% of HCWs were with good knowledge, 82.8% with good attitude and 80.8% had good practice. Obstacles identified by HCWs were as follow: making patient-care very technical (65.3%), deficiency of hand washing facilities (59.2%), skin irritation resulting from hand hygiene products (51%), and unavailability of PPE (38.8%). High significant improvements of knowledge, attitude and practice were detected after one month of educational intervention (P= 0.000). During the pre-interventional period only 30.5% of surfaces were considered clean versus 97.45% post intervention (P< 0.05). The highest Median ATP bioluminescence values were obtained from telephone handset, light switches and Blood pressure cuffs. S. aureus was the most common isolated organism followed by Enterococcus spp and E.coli (52, 38 and 19 surfaces respectively). In conclusion, contentious training of HCWs on standard precautions should be considered a mandatory element in infection control programs



Author(s):  
Meike M. Neuwirth ◽  
Frauke Mattner ◽  
Robin Otchwemah

AbstractAdherence observations of health care workers (HCW) revealed deficiencies in the use of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) among HCW caring in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards during the first period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a university hospital in Germany. The adherence to wearing surgical face or FFP2-masks and disinfecting hands prior to donning and after doffing the PPE was significantly higher in COVID-19 wards However, there was no total adherence of 100% in COVID-19 wards.



Author(s):  
Siti Alfiah ◽  
Rini Susanti

The success development in the health fields is concentrated at the attempts to reduce the mortality rate of infants and toddlers at the same time. The purpose of this research is to analyze whether there is a correlation between knowledge and performance of the health care workers to the number of the babies, specifically the ones under five years old, to visit the posyandu as an integral part of the Lubuk Baja Health Centre in Batam.This study is a descriptive analytic research with 56 respondentsthat covers all health care workers in the service area ofLubuk Baja Health Care. The data is analyzed using Chi Square statistical test at significance level of 95%. The result reveals that based on the respondents’ characteristic, it was obtained 56 respondents have good knowledge level and able to apply their knowledge to posyanduactivities. Besides, it is also noted that 44 respondents have well performance. On the other hand, the researchersdiscover 28 toddlers getgood treatment meanwhile 28 of them are not treated very well. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is no significant correlation between knowledge levels and performance of the health care workers to the number of theunder-five years children to visits the posyanduwhich indicated by  each of p> 0.05 for knowledge and performance. In general, knowledge and good performance of posyandu cadres and society surroundingsaretwo very important aspects to improvethe number of the children to attend the posyandu. As the suggestion, it is expected that theposyandu cadres and society to be more concerned about the presence of posyandufor benefit of the newborns as well as the enhancement of the health sciences for life.



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