Infection prevention and control standards and associated factors: Case study of the level of knowledge and practices among nurses in a Saudi Arabian hospital

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated infection is a significant public health issue in both developed and developing countries. This study was performed to assess the knowledge and practices of infection prevention and control (IPC) of nurses working in a Saudi hospital, and to examine their associations with the nurses’ sociodemographic characteristics and work/training experience. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted with participation of male and female nurses of all nationalities who had direct contact with patients while providing healthcare services at King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh (KAMC-R). Sociodemographic characteristics, and work/training experience were reported; IPC knowledge and practices were assessed by questionnaire. Data of 308 valid responses were analyzed. Percentage of correct responses to nine IPC knowledge questions and frequent adherence to 11 IPC practices were calculated. IPC knowledge and practice scores were developed by using principal component analyses; individual scores were classified into high/low level of knowledge or practices by the median of the scores. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between IPC knowledge or practice scores and sociodemographic or work/training variables. RESULTS: Majority of the participants were females (89.3%). Significant associations between high education level and high level of IPC knowledge (AOR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.45-5.10) and practices (AOR = 3.66, 95% CI = 1.90-7.05) were observed, after controlling the influence of sociodemographic and work/training variables. CONCLUSION: High scores for IPC knowledge and IPC practices were independently associated with nurses’ high level of education, regardless of their nationality or previous working experience. Further studies to develop effective programs for IPC regardless of the nurses’ educational attainment are recommended.