Table 2.
Knowledge of infection prevention and control standard precautions of HCWs in public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2023 (n = 422)
| Measure of HCW’s Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control Standard Precautions | HCWs Response | |
|---|---|---|
| Yes n (%) |
No n (%) |
|
| Do you consider every client and patient as potentially infectious or susceptible to infection? | 379(89.8) | 43 (10.2) |
| Standard precautions should be applied to all patients and clients attending the healthcare services | 254(60.2) | 168 (39.8) |
| Standard precaution is applied to all blood, body fluid, secretion, and execration except sweat, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin | 306(72.5) | 116 (27.5) |
| Hand hygiene is the single most important intervention for preventing the transmission of infections | 376(89.1) | 46 (10.9) |
| Do you know five moments of hand washing | 348(82.5) | 74 (17.5) |
| Hand washing is indicated between tasks and procedures on the same patient | 318(75.4) | 104 (24.6) |
| The use of alcohol-based antiseptic for hand hygiene is more effective than hand washing with plain soap and water | 246(58.3) | 176 (41.7) |
| The use of personal protective equipment relies on an HCW’s assessment of the risk of exposures/types, contact, and intensity of contact | 343(81.3) | 79 (18.7) |
| Use gloves before touching anything wet, such as non-intact skin, mucous membranes | 384(91.0) | 38 (9.0) |
| Hand washing should be practiced after the removal of the glove | 334(79.1) | 88 (20.9) |
| Personal protective equipment prevents the risk of acquiring infection | 404(95.7) | 18 (4.3) |
| The aseptic technique should be applied when preparing and delivering injections | 373(88.4) | 49 (11.6) |
| Used sharps and needles should be safely disposed of in closed and puncture-resistant containers | 382(90.5) | 40 (9.5% |
| Needles should be recapped after use | 171(40.5) | 251(59.5) |
| Patient care equipment should be cleaned between each use to prevent cross-contamination | 380(90.0) | 42(10.0) |
| Do you know the steps for reprocessing medical and surgical devices | 326(77.3) | 96 (22.7) |
| The frequently touched surface of the patient zone can harbor and cause the microorganism to spread across the facility via hands and contaminated items | 371(87.9) | 51 (12.1) |
| Do you know the different categories of waste and appropriate disposal methods at the point of waste generation? | 315(74.6) | 107(25.4) |
| Adherence to standard precautions prevents the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections | 393(93.1) | 29 (6.9) |
| Standard precaution contributes to preventing occupational infections among healthcare workers | 372(88.2) | 50 (11.8) |
| Compliance with infection prevention and control standard precautions plays an important role to prevent antimicrobial resistance | 381(90.3) | 41 (9.7) |