ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES IN INFECTION PREVENTION CONTROL PRACTICES AMONG NURSES BEFORE AND AFTER TRAINING AT TERTIARY CARE CENTER, VISAKHAPATNAM

Objective: The healthcare-acquired infections are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare expenditures. Infection transmission can be reduced significantly by adhering to infection control guidelines. Among healthcare workers, nurses are at more risk of exposures to HAIs and can cause cross-infection in patients. Nurses if properly trained, can actively participate in hospital infection control as well as protection of patients, visitors and other staff members. This study aims to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and practices among nurses in infection control practices before and after training. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Government hospital to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of Nurses before training. And then, training, especially classes, have taken for nurses on various aspects of IPC practices for 7 d and at the end of 7 d post-test was conducted. Results: The correct response of Nurses for Hand hygiene section before training is 62.2% and after training it was 96.6%. Regarding Respiratory hygiene the correct response before training was 58.4% and 94% after training. About transmission-based precautions the nurses were not much aware before (54% correct response) and after training 93.6% answered well. Regarding safe injection practices, the percentage was 66% and 96.8% and About Biomedical waste management 78.8% and 99.8% before and after training, respectively. Conclusion: Training has an impact to increase the knowledge, attitude and practice in their routine working for nurses so that infections can reduce in the hospital settings.