Asmaa Salah Eldin Mohamed Saleh¹, Amal Abelazyeem Mohamed¹, Mona Moawad Mohamed², Hanan Elzeblawy Hassan^3,

Background: The main viral infection among patients on chronic hemodialysis remains viral hepatitis, which represents a major health issue, first with a high prevalence and then with a progressive risk to chronicity, developing either cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association; infection prevention and control must be made up of evidence-based knowledge, and up-to-date skills and implementation practices. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess nurses' knowledge regarding preventive measures for viral hepatitis B&C in hemodialysis dialysis unit. Design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized in the current study. Setting: The study was carried out in two hemodialysis units at Beni-Suef University Hospital and Elwasta General Hospital in Beni-Suef Governorate. Subjects: A convenient sample of 76 hemodialysis nurses, of whom 22 were men and 54 women. Results: about 57.9% of the dialysis nurses have 2-5 years of experience in dialysis unit. Furthermore, 76.1% of them attend program for new dialysis nurses, 53% of them have fair level; however, 37% of them had good level of total knowledge about general knowledge about preventive measures of infection control in dialysis unit and infection control inside dialysis unit. Conclusion: Most of dialysis nurses' have correct knowledge about the methods and supplies of infection control in the dialysis unit and the disinfectant that used when sterilizing machines, respectively. However, 78.9% & 76.3% of them have incomplete knowledge about the nursing actions share in the transmission of viral hepatitis helps to transmission of viral hepatitis and the isolation of dialysis machine for certain patients, respectively. Recommendations: Increase availability of supplies and equipment, especially which concerned With infection control as personal protective equipment, alcohol rub in a dispenser inside the dialysis rooms and close from the point of care.

viral hepatitis, nurses' knowledge, preventive measures