Assessment of infection Control Practice and Knowledge of Health Care Workers Regarding Needle Stick Injuries In a private Hospital –Cairo- Egypt

Abstract

This was a cross sectional study conducted to assess the knowledge of doctors and nurses regarding NSI and their practices. In addition, it measured prevalence of NSI during 2011 and 2012. This study revealed that there was no difference between nurses and doctors, knowledge regarding NSI. Concerning health care workers’ knowledge about diseases transmitted by NSI: 89.7%, 94.0% and 87.8% were aware of the fact that HBV, HCV and HIV respectively could be transmitted by NSI. The present study shows that only 37.4% of participants had history of participation in a training program about NSI. More than 90% knew that it is not safe to use syringe between patients if the needle is changed. Moreover, it was found that 70 (29.8%) of doctors and nurses who participated thought that there is over prescription of injections in the hospital while 109 (46.4%) denied that and 56 (23.8%) did not know. The most effective means of preventing transmission of blood-borne pathogens is to prevent exposure to NSIs by implementing standard precautions. In this study, regarding the knowledge of doctors and nurses about the standard precautions it was found that, 87.9% of participants knew the correct final disposal of needles and sharps (dispose sharps in sharp container with removing syringe). Eighty six and half percent of participants knew that gloves are required for any contact with patients and about 78% of HCWs who participated in the study knew that they should not ever recap used needle.