INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL PRACTICES AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN NEW DELHI
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Abstract
Background: Infection prevention and control is a clinical and public health speciality that is universally relevant to every health worker and patient at every healthcare interaction, being a proven approach to prevent the transmission of infectious hazards. HAI is a significant problem, but prevention strategies are effective and cheap, with training programs being easy to design and implement in a wide variety of clinical settings, yielding an encouraging cost-benefit ratio, thus pointing to the vitality of KAP amongst HCWs.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare workers towards infection prevention and control to minimize the risk of healthcare associated infections.
Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out from November 2023 to October 2024 at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. The study population consisted of all healthcare workers (resident doctors and nurses) working in the Neonatology Department. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the KAP of the HCWs.
Result: The majority of HCWs demonstrated good to excellent knowledge scores, excellent attitude scores and excellent practice scores. Only a minor proportion had average or below average knowledge score, with nursing staff demonstrating lower overall performance than resident doctors. A significant association was observed between years of experience and knowledge (p= 0.046) and between position held and knowledge (p=0.009), but not with attitude and practice. Significant barriers to IPC included lack of time and insufficient supplies. Empirical treatment was the main rationale behind antibiotic prescription.
Conclusion: Most HCWs had satisfactory scores, with the overall KAP scores being highest for senior residents, followed by junior residents and nurses. Lack of time was the primary barrier to IPC.
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