Nurses’ Perf
Nurses’ Performance, isolation policy and HCV Sero-conversion among Hemodialysis Patients in Egyptian Hospitals
Sahar Yassin1, Manal El Dib2 and Dalia Roshd2
Departments of 1Public Health and 2General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
Abstract: HCV infection remains highly prevalent both in developed and less-developed countries. In spite of considerable decline in the incidence and prevalence of HCV infection among HD patients in many countries, this infection still remains a major problem among patients on maintenance HD especially in Egypt. Clearly, strict adherence to standard precautions including isolation precautions is the key stone in the prevention of nosocomial transmission of HCV in hemodialysis units. Study design and aim of the work: This study was conducted in the HD units at four Egyptian hospitals, two public and two private hospitals. First phase; cross section – exploratory phase to document nurses' knowledge, practice and application of isolation policy in the units. Second phase; prospective phase to the HCV sero-negative cases to detect sero-conversion rate. Statistical analysis: the public units (Group A) was compared with private units( group B) using suitable significant tests with significant level P value<0.05, calculation of HCV period prevalence, incidence and incidence density. Results: group B units follow isolation policy for HCV positive patients while group A units don't, nurses training sessions, knowledge and practices are significantly better in group B units than in group A, seroconversion rate is higher significantly in group A units than in group B. Conclusion and recommendations: HDUs that conform to policies and regulation related to infection control and isolation of HCV sero-positive cases had significant low incidence rate for HCV sero-conversion.
[Sahar Yassin, Manal El Dib and Dalia Roshd. Nurses’ Performance, isolation policy and HCV Sero-conversion among Hemodialysis Patients in Egyptian Hospitals. Life Sci J 2012;9(1):740-749] (ISSN:1097-8135).http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 107
Key words: HCV seroconversion, isolation policy, hemodialysis units, infection control standard Full Text 107
