INFECÇÕES RELACIONADAS À ASSISTÊNCIA À SAÚDE: CONHECIMENTO DE MÉDICOS E ENFERMEIROS DE UM HOSPITAL DA VENEZUELA

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Healthcare associated infections (HCAI) have high impact due to morbidity, mortality and the economic and social costs they generate. Some of them can be prevented and the health workers have an important role in this regard. The objective of this survey was to investigate the knowledge about HAIs and their prevention in doctors and nurses of the "Dr. Hector Nouel Joubert" Hospital from Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, in order to establish a system of continuing education on HAIs and its prevention. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study with stratified random sampling was carried out. The sample consisted of 35 doctors and 86 nurses who were surveyed to investigate knowledge in three specific areas: general information about HCAI, standard precautions, and hand hygiene. They were considered to have adequate knowledge if they obtained an average score of 17.5 points or more. Results: The 72.2% of the participants were female with an average age of 38.8 years (SD ± 7.8 years; Range: 25-60 years). The average score in the survey was 16 points (SD ± 2.69; Range: 10-21). The 43.5% approved the survey. When evaluating the knowledge on the studied areas, it was found that most of them know basic concepts about standard precautions (67%) but not about HCAI generalities (20%) or hand hygiene (20.9%). Conclusion: Doctors and nurses do not have adequate knowledge about HCAI and its prevention, however, it was found that they have knowledge about universal precautions.