Medical Graduate , Aga Khan University.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , Aga Khan University , Karachi , Pakistan.
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2015 Dec 22;3(1):ofv208. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofv208. eCollection 2016 Jan.
Background. Fomites are objects that can become colonized and serve as vectors in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Literature examining the knowledge of healthcare personnel about this method of spread of infection is lacking. We conducted a study to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare personnel across different areas of patient care regarding the spread of infections at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare personnel using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contained sections pertaining to demographic details and knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding fomites and their role in the transmission of pathogens. Results. Three hundred and fifty-three participants completed the questionnaire: 168 were male and 185 were female. Laboratory coats, stethoscopes, and bedside curtains were most frequently identified as fomites by the participants. Medical students had significantly lower mean scores in the knowledge and attitude sections than consultant physicians, resident physicians, and nurses. Nurses scored higher than consultant physicians, resident physicians, and medical students regarding practices that minimize fomite-borne spread of infections. 95% of the participants scored above 50% on the knowledge component of the questionnaire, but only 32.3% scored above 50% in the practices section. Conclusions. Our results show a large gap between the knowledge about fomites acting as vectors in the spread of pathogens and practices done to minimize this spread. Possessing adequate knowledge is ineffectual until and unless it is translated into the proper application of infection control practices. Incorporating awareness sessions and exercises into curricula are a reasonable way to raise awareness regarding this subject.
污染物是指可能被病原体定植并作为传播媒介的物体。目前，有关医疗保健人员对这种感染传播方式的了解的文献还很缺乏。我们在巴基斯坦卡拉奇的一家三级保健医院进行了一项研究，评估了不同患者护理领域的医疗保健人员对感染传播的知识、态度和实践。
采用自填式问卷对医疗保健人员进行了描述性横断面研究。问卷包括人口统计学细节以及有关污染物及其在病原体传播中的作用的知识、态度和实践。
共有 353 名参与者完成了问卷：168 名男性，185 名女性。参与者最常将实验室外套、听诊器和床头帘视为污染物。与顾问医师、住院医师和护士相比，医学生在知识和态度部分的平均得分明显较低。护士在感染传播中尽量减少污染物传播的实践方面的得分高于顾问医师、住院医师和医学生。95%的参与者在问卷的知识部分得分超过 50%，但只有 32.3%在实践部分得分超过 50%。
我们的研究结果表明，污染物作为病原体传播媒介的知识与为尽量减少这种传播而采取的实践之间存在很大差距。拥有足够的知识是无效的，除非将其转化为适当的感染控制实践应用。将意识课程和练习纳入课程是提高对这一主题认识的合理途径。
