Abuobaida E.E. Abukhelaif*
Background: Infection prevention and control is an integral component of nursing care delivery in any setting to reduce risks for morbidity and mortality in patients and care givers at all levels. Nurses share responsibility with other health care personnel for infection risk reduction in patients across entire continuum of care and play vital role in reducing risks for infection through a variety of direct care activities.
Aims & Objective: This was a cross sectional descriptive study aimed at determining the knowledge, practice and factors that influence compliance with usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) among nurses working at Al-Baha King Fahad Hospital, KSA.
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted between October and December 2017 among staff nurses working at Baha KFH. One hundred eighty five nurses were enrolled in this study. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: Most of the studied nurses were female, young in the age group of less than 40 years, carry bachelor’s degree and work as staff nurses for more than 3 years (78.4% 81.1%,74.6% & 61.6%) respectively. There is strong evidence of positive relationship between awareness of the respondents with PPE, gloves (as an effective barrier for infection control), hand mediated transmission and catheter care practices with most of the nurse's demographic characteristics however there was no association between the age and wearing of gloves.
Conclusion: Nurses had excellent knowledge with and appropriate use of PPE as vital in safeguarding HCWs and spread of infection.
