Knowledge of Healthcare Workers on Nosocomial Infection in Selected Secondary Health Institutions in Zaria, Nigeria

Samaila Ayuba Balarabe^1, , Istifanus Anekoson Joshua², Aliyu Danjuma¹, Mohammed Usman Dauda³, Omoniyi Oluwafemi Sunday⁴ and Haruna Danlami Yusuf³

¹Department of Nursing Services, Ahmadu BelloUniversity Teaching Hospital Shika-Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria

²Department of Community Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria

³University Health Services,Ahmadu Bello University Samaru Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria

⁴Department of Nursing Services, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Samaila Ayuba Balarabe, Istifanus Anekoson Joshua, Aliyu Danjuma, Mohammed Usman Dauda, Omoniyi Oluwafemi Sunday and Haruna Danlami Yusuf. Knowledge of Healthcare Workers on Nosocomial Infection in Selected Secondary Health Institutions in Zaria, Nigeria. World Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2015; 3(1):1-6. doi: 10.12691/jpm-3-1-1

Abstract

Background: Nosocomial infection is one of the leading causes of death and increased morbidity for hospitalized Patients. The study assessed the knowledge of healthcare workers on nosocomial infections in secondary health institutions in Zaria local government area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Materials andMethods: This study wasa cross-sectional descriptive survey carried out in October, 2010. One hundred and sixty(160) self-administered semi structured questionnaire was used for the studyand data analyzed using SPSS window 16.0 version. Results: The findings showed most of the respondents were within the age bracket of 20–29 years, mean age of 34 ± 12 years and age range of 20-60years. 62.2% were female and 66.9% were nurses by profession followed by pharmacist with 13.1%. The respondents mean working experience was10 ± 9 years. Majority (57.5%) of the respondents were aware of nosocomial infections as an infection that manifests after 48 hours of hospital admission. 76.9% (123) of the respondents were of the opinion that bacteria are the common cause of nosocomial infections. 38.8% of the respondents were of the opinion that contact transmission, airborne transmission. Vehicle transmission and vector transmission are the common routes of nosocomial infections. 46.9% of the respondents were of the opinion that the best ways to prevent nosocomial infections are strict aseptic technique, proper isolation and barrier nursing of infectious cases, regular nasal and throat swab investigations of health care workers and education of health workers on the prevention and control of the infection. Conclusion: The recommendations included emphasis on regular in-service training programme for staff, the practice of universal precaution and screening of hospital staff to identify those that are chronic nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus among others.

Keywords:
knowledge healthcare workers nosocomial infections Zaria

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	World Health Organization.WHO Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance. WHO/CDS/CSR/DRS/2001.2.
[2]	Struelens MJ. The epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in hospital-acquired infections: problems and possible solutions. BMJ 1998, 317:652-654.
[3]	Mc Brydes ES. Bradley L.G. Whithy, M. Mc Elwain D.L An investigation of contact transmission of methicillin-resistance staphylococcus aureus. J. Hospital Infection, 2004; 58(2): 104-8, http://www.ncbi.ncm.gov(assessed on 17/07/2009).
[4]	Greenwood D, Richard SCB, John PF. Strategy of antimicrobial chemotherapy. Medical Microbiology;London, church Livingstone, 15thedition, 1998: 644-645.
[5]	Richard S. Infection control today. Journal of hospital infection, 2000; 32(4): 159-165.
[6]	World Health Organization (WHO). Prevention of Hospital-acquired infections. A Practical Guide, General WHO press, 2nd edition, 2002: 1-3.
[7]	Toni R. Lee-Culvert L. Hospital-Acquired infection, 2004http://www.surgeryencylopedia.com / FL-la/Hospital/-Acquired infection.htm (assessed on 20/08/2009).
[8]	Weinstein R., Kasper D.L,Braudiwald E, Hauser S.L. Hospital-acquired Infections. Harrison’s principles of internal Medicine, 16th edition, 2004.
[9]	Wesley A. W, Margaret F.W.Basic microbiology, New York, Harper and Row Publishers, 6th edition, 1988: 171-172.
[10]	Chen, Y.Y. Chou, Y.G, Chou, P. Impact of Nosocomial Infection on cost of illness and Length of stay in intensive care unit. Infection control hospital epidemiology 2005, 26(3): 281-287.
[11]	Stone P.W, Braccia D, Larson E. Systematic review of economic analyses of healthcare associated infections. AMJ Infections control, 2005; 33(9): 501-509.
[12]	Farr, B. Prevention and Control of Nosocomial infection WMA Business Briefing: Global healthcare 2002; 3:37-41.
[13]	National Population Commission of Nigeria: Zaria Local Government Area, 2006www.citypopulation.de/references.html (assessed on 20/11/2013).
[14]	Zhan C. Miller M.R. Excess length of stay, charges and mortality attributable to medical injuries during hospitalization JAMA 2003: (290): 1868-1874.
[15]	Prescott L.M., Harsley J. Klein O. Microbiology, New York, Mc Graw-Hall publishers, 5th edition, 2002: 855-867.
[16]	Garner J.S Hospital Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee. GuidelinesFor isolation and precaution in hospitals infection control epidemiology 1996: 17:53-80.