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Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control among healthcare workers: one year after an outbreak of nosocomial Lassa fever in a tertiary hospital in southeast Nigeria

*1,2Adeke, A. S., 3Onoh, R. C., 1,2Umeokonkwo, C. D., 1Azuogu, B. N., and 4Ogah, E. O.

1Department of Community Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
4Department of Pediatrics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: azukaadeke@gmail.com; +2348035285133

Abstract:
Background: With the rise in cases of Lassa fever in recent times in West Africa, the healthcare setting continues to pose significant risk especially among healthcare workers (HCWs) for diseases like Lassa fever that are transmitted via contact with blood and other body fluids. We therefore assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of infection prevention and control (IPC) one year after an outbreak of nosocomial transmission of Lassa fever in the study hospital. Continue reading “Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control among healthcare workers: one year after an outbreak of nosocomial Lassa fever in a tertiary hospital in southeast Nigeria”

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Profile of bacterial pathogens contaminating hands of healthcare workers during daily routine care of patients at a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria

1Ige, O. T., 2Jimoh, O., 3Ige, S. O., 4Ijei, I. P., 5Zubairu, H., and 2Olayinka, A. T.

1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria

2Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Kaduna, Nigeria

3Department of Paediatrics, Yusuf Dantsofo Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria

4Department of Hematology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria

5Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria Correspondence to: anjolaoluwanow@gmail.com; Mobile: 08133831264

Abstract:

Background: Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) have been recognized as a critical challenge affecting the quality of healthcare services provided. A significant proportion of these infections result from cross-contamination of microorganisms which are often acquired and spread by direct contact with patients or contaminated adjacent environmental surfaces through the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs). The objectives of this study are to profile bacterial pathogens commonly found on the hands of health care workers while routinely attending to patients in the healthcare facility and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Continue reading “Profile of bacterial pathogens contaminating hands of healthcare workers during daily routine care of patients at a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria”

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Hepatitis B immunization at the University College Hospital, Ibadan: an eight year review of vaccine administration records

SO Ola, A Akere, JA Otegbayo, F Omokhodion, AA Olofin, EA Bamgboye

 

Abstract

Vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) against hepatitis (HBV) infection is highly necessary in Nigeria where the infection occurs in hperendemic proportions. We hereby determine the trends in the administration of HBV vaccine at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. The study reviewed the records for the administration of vaccine against HBV at the Staff Medical Services Department of UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria, from 1994 to 2001. A total of 1,437 subjects consisting of 686 (47.7%) males and 751 (52.3 %) females were vaccinated against HBV from 1994 to 2001. They were aged 16 to 64 years and consisted of 356 students (24.8%) and 1081 healthcare workers (HCWs) (75.2%) which comprised Doctors (30.9%), Dentists (1.9%), Paramedics (19.6%), Non-medics (14.6%) and subjects with undisclosed occupational category ((10.7%). About 11% to 100% of the subjects had annual prescreening for HBsAg sero-negativity from 1996 to 2001 but none had post vaccination assay of anti-HBs titre. All the subjects received 1st dose of 0, 1, 2 accelerated HBV vaccination schedule while on annual basis, 16.7% to 91.8% of the subjects received the 3rd dose of the vaccine. Despite the proportional participation of the different occupational groups was highest among the doctors and dentists but lowest among the paramedics, only 59.7% of all the vaccinees had three dose(s) of the vaccine during the 8 year period. In conclusion, although the HBV vaccination programme had shortcomings, it is an established practice at UCH, Ibadan and efforts should be made to improve on its prevailing standard.

Keywords: Immunization, HBV, Healthcare Workers, Nigerians, UCH, Ibadan.

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Hepatitis B immunization at the University College Hospital Ibadan an eight year review of vaccine administration records