Sarcouncil Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract: Objective: To assess the infection control practices in the operating theater in terms of healthcare workers in healthcare and to evaluate their personal attributes, training level, awareness of the guidelines, and behavioral preventive factors. Method: The research was carried out on a population of 230 healthcare professionals in the operation department (specialized and resident surgeons, nurses, anesthetists, and anesthesia assistants). The age, sex, years of experience, occupation, and IPC-related knowledge and practices of the participants were measured using a structured questionnaire. Analyses of data were qualitative in nature, and the variations between occupations were investigated (regression analysis was also used and is reported in the study). Results: Participants’ mean age was 35.3 ± 7.3 years (range 22–60); 66.1% were male. Fewer than 30.9% (71/230) had been trained on IPC, and even fewer (11.3%, 26/230) had been given a national IPC guideline (48.3% had heard about one). Correct awareness/practice was reported to be high on several core measures including hair shaving indicated (95.2%), antiseptic skin preparation with povidone iodine (97.3%), hand position post-surgical scrub (95.2%), short nails (99.1%), cap use (100%), surgical gown (100‾), sterile gloves (9 There were still some gaps (e.g. 53.1% used electrical shavers; 51.6% recommended patients to shower with antiseptic; and 23.0% washed scrub suits in the same department). There were observed occupational variations in training and in receiving guidelines. As an example, diploma nurses showed the highest IPC training (78.8%), and some categories of anesthetists showed the lowest (17.5%). The measures related to the risk of infection were ambivalent: 91.3% were vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus, and 63.9% participants were vaccinated against the risk of infectious diseases (HBV: 41.3%). Completion of 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine was 71.7%. Conclusion: The research found that IPC training and access to national guidelines had significant gaps, and the practice of recommended operating theaters varied among studies. The IPC training should be reinforced and standardized, the distribution of materials on national guidelines should be enhanced, and the focus on specific occupation-related practices in healthcare must intensify in all healthcare occupations.