Assess the Nurses Knowledge and Standard Practice Regarding the Prevention of Infection in Neutropenic Patients

Abstract

Neutropenia-associated infections can prolong hospitalization, increase re-admission, mortality and morbidity rates. Aim of research is to determine nurses' knowledge and infection control care practices in neutropenic patients. This descriptive study was conducted between January 2020 and April 2020, at tertiary hospital Lahore, Pakistan. Sample consisted of 150 staff nurses. Data were collected by a form included socio-demographic characteristics, neutropenia knowledge questions, and infection control care practices. Each nurse was observed by researcher for infection control care practices. For observation hand hygiene adherence was found low both in medication preparation, administration and vital signs assessment. Sterility disrupted in almost all preparation of parenteral medications. Even nurses' knowledge related with neutropenia and care of neutropenic patient was found above average their infection control care practices were found insufficient.Infected patients are a source of infection transmission to other patients, health care workers and visitors, in health care facilities. Healthcare-related infections have a significant influence on the morbidity and mortality rates in the hospital environment, resulting in an increase in the time spent in hospitalization, and are thus recognized as a serious world public health problem

Neutropenia is one of the most common risk factors of serious infections in immune suppressed patients and can be the result of a variety of consequences, including from certain types of drugs, environmental toxins, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic abnormalities, as well as cancer or infections. In spite of the way that neutropenia bring about contaminations, numerous preventive treatment and care conventions are demonstrated to decrease the disease rates, and improve personal satisfaction. The counteraction and control of diseases are critical for a well-functioning health system. World Health Organization in 2011 defined infection control as infection prevention and control measures that aims to confirm the defense of those who might be susceptible to obtaining an infection both in the general community and in hospitals while obtaining care due to health problems.

Keywords: Nurses, Knowledge, practice, prevention, neutropenic patients.

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/77-05

Publication date:July 31^st 2020