Nurses' Knowledge and Practice regarding the Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units of Hospitals for Iran University of Medical Sciences

Background & Aims Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are a common type of nosocomial infections, with a higher prevalence among healthcare providers, including nurses who play an important role in preventing these infections due to their responsibility for routine care of central venous catheters (CVCs). Regular evaluation of nurses' knowledge and compliance with evidence-based guidelines for CLABSI prevention are thus important. This study aims to determine the knowledge and practice of nurses in preventing CLABSI in intensive care units (ICUs) of hospitals for Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran. Materials & Methods In this descriptive study, 200 nurses working in the ICUs of hospitals affiliated to the IUMS in 2023 were included using a convenience sampling method. To collect data, a demographic form, a self-report knowledge scale, and a practice checklist based on the clinical care guidelines of the New South Wales Institute for Clinical Innovation & Emergency Care for preventing CVC-related infections were used. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 16. Results The nurses' mean knowledge score was 6.44 ± 1.44. There was a significant difference in the knowledge score based on age (P=0.006), work experience (P=0.001), and ICU work experience (P=0.006). The practice of nurses varies in different dimensions, and the most unfavorable practices were in the fields of "using 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol for cleaning the injection site during dressing changes", "using sterile gloves to put on a new dressing", and "disinfecting the injection port without needles and vascular access tools with a disposable applicator dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol”. Conclusion The knowledge of ICU nurses from the IUMS hospitals regarding the prevention of CVC-related infections is at a moderate to high level. Older nurses and those with more work experience and ICU work experience have higher knowledge. Although the practice of these nurses are favorable in most cases, their poor practice in some areas should be considered as it can affect infection control, quality of care, and patient safety. Hospital managers should provide educational interventions for nurses regarding proper CVC care and the guidelines should be made available to all departments, especially ICUs.