학술논문
Infection prevention and control in a treatment centre during a Lassa fever outbreak in southeastern Nigeria--January, 2018
RAPID REPORTS
RAPID REPORTS
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Source
Global Biosecurity. December 2019, Vol. 1 Issue 3
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
2652-0036
Abstract
Introduction Lassa fever is a communicable acute viral haemorrhagic disease. Its primary animal host is the multi-mammate rat (Mastomys natalensis), an animal indigenous to most of sub-Saharan Africa and many [...]
Introduction: Lassa fever (LF) is a communicable viral haemorrhagic disease. Person-to-person spread occurs by inhalation or direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected patient. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is essential in healthcare facilities for the wellbeing and safety of patients, staff and visitors. Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki is the designated treatment center for LF in Ebonyi State. We assessed IPC practices in this facility during the 2018 outbreak of LF involving healthcare workers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 135 healthcare workers selected by systematic sampling. Information on their knowledge and practice of IPC was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. We classified knowledge into 'good', 'fair' and 'poor' based on the total correct response. Those that scored [greater than or equal to] 75% of the maximum score were classified as good, 50-74% as fair and Results: The mean age of the respondents was 37.6 [+ or -] 7.6 years and 75 (55.6%) were females. Fifty-seven (42.5%), 29 (21.6%) and 13 (9.9%) respondents claimed always to have gloves, running water and hand washing soaps, respectively, in their units. The proportion of respondents with good knowledge of IPC measures was 71.8%, while 58.5% and 37.8% had good knowledge of LF epidemiology and LF clinical features, respectively. Being a core health worker (OR: 3.39 95%CI: 1.38-8.32) was significantly associated with good knowledge of LF epidemiology. Being male (OR: 1.55 95%CI: 0.72-3.34) and having spent >15years in the facility (OR: 1.16 95%CI: 0.39-3.44) were associated with good knowledge of IPC precautionary measures. However, these associations were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The majority of the staff had good knowledge of IPC. However, knowledge of LF epidemiology was greater among those whose roles were related to management of LF cases. We recommended more awareness on LF, IPC practices and improved supply of IPC commodities. Keywords: Lassa fever, Outbreak, Infection Prevention and Control, Healthcare workers
Introduction: Lassa fever (LF) is a communicable viral haemorrhagic disease. Person-to-person spread occurs by inhalation or direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected patient. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is essential in healthcare facilities for the wellbeing and safety of patients, staff and visitors. Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki is the designated treatment center for LF in Ebonyi State. We assessed IPC practices in this facility during the 2018 outbreak of LF involving healthcare workers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 135 healthcare workers selected by systematic sampling. Information on their knowledge and practice of IPC was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. We classified knowledge into 'good', 'fair' and 'poor' based on the total correct response. Those that scored [greater than or equal to] 75% of the maximum score were classified as good, 50-74% as fair and Results: The mean age of the respondents was 37.6 [+ or -] 7.6 years and 75 (55.6%) were females. Fifty-seven (42.5%), 29 (21.6%) and 13 (9.9%) respondents claimed always to have gloves, running water and hand washing soaps, respectively, in their units. The proportion of respondents with good knowledge of IPC measures was 71.8%, while 58.5% and 37.8% had good knowledge of LF epidemiology and LF clinical features, respectively. Being a core health worker (OR: 3.39 95%CI: 1.38-8.32) was significantly associated with good knowledge of LF epidemiology. Being male (OR: 1.55 95%CI: 0.72-3.34) and having spent >15years in the facility (OR: 1.16 95%CI: 0.39-3.44) were associated with good knowledge of IPC precautionary measures. However, these associations were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The majority of the staff had good knowledge of IPC. However, knowledge of LF epidemiology was greater among those whose roles were related to management of LF cases. We recommended more awareness on LF, IPC practices and improved supply of IPC commodities. Keywords: Lassa fever, Outbreak, Infection Prevention and Control, Healthcare workers