Nursing Students' Knowledge and Preventive Measures Regarding Black Fungus Infection

Background: Black fungus infection is a life-threatening fungal infection associated with an increasing morbidity and mortality despite the availability of therapeutic tools. Aim: To assess nursing student‘s knowledge and preventive measures regarding black fungus infection. Study design: A descriptive cross sectional study design was used. Study setting: This study was conducted at Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University. Study subjects: A random sample of 1145 nursing students. Tools: Two tools were used. Tool I: A structured questionnaire schedule included two parts: Part (1): Socio demographic characteristics of the nursing students and part (2): Knowledge of the nursing students about black fungus diseases. Tool ІІ: Self-reported measures of nursing students regarding preventive measures of black fungus diseases. Results: The majority (92.9%) of nursing students displayed low level of knowledge about black fungus infection. The study revealed that 58.5% of the students exhibited satisfactory practices. Total knowledge score positively correlated with total reported practices score. Conclusion: There was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between total knowledge score and total practices score. Recommendations: Organize workshops or webinars with infectious disease specialists or experts in mycology to update nursing students about emerging trends in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mucormycosis