-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, medical staff are obliged to decontaminate the skin of the hands before every single patient contact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed by quasi-observation among the group of 188 medical staff (nurses and physicians) working in three selected hospitals of the Łódź province. The procedure of hand washing and disinfection performed directly before the patient contact according to the CDC and WHO recommendations were observed. The results was subject to statistical analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: During 1544 hours of observation 4101 activities requiring hand washing were recorded. The medical staff obeyed the hand washing procedure before the patient contact only in 5.2% of the situations. There was no activity observed before which hand hygiene was maintained in 100% of cases. Observance of hand hygiene depended significantly on the type of the performed activity, the professional group, and the workload index. A decrease in percentage observance of hand hygiene according to the time of the day was found to be of statistical significance. The mean time of hand washing was 8.5 s for physicians and 6.6 s for nurses. CONCLUSION: The level of observance of hand washing procedures among the medical staff prior to the patient contact appears to be alarmingly below the expectations.
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 03/2013; · 1.23 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Medical personnel having daily contacts with patients and, consequently, with their blood and other body fluids constitute a group of an increased risk of percutaneous exposure. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of medical personnel's contacts with blood and other body fluids as well as to analyze the attitudes of patients infected with blood-borne pathogens and procedures after an occupational exposure to infectious material.
A questionnaire survey of 151 persons.
The survey revealed that 77.5% of physicians and 98.2% of nurses experience contacts with infectious material at least several times a week. Simultaneously, 45% of physicians and only 18.9% of nurses stated that they had never been injured with a contaminated needle or other medical instruments. Disconcerting is also the fact that only 45.5% of physicians and 66.7% of nurses report such incidents to their superiors.
The study proved that medical personnel form an occupational group regularly exposed to contacts with patients' blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions. Despite such frequent contacts with patients' body fluids and frequent injuries with medical instruments, their knowledge of blood-borne infections is inadequate. The awareness of giving care to an infected patient makes the majority of medical personnel modify their behavior.
Medycyna pracy 01/2011; 62(5):473-80. · 0.30 Impact Factor
-
Anna Garus-Pakowska
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Although hand hygiene and use of gloves as protective measures against pathogen transmission are indisputable, the level of compliance with the worldwide-accepted hygiene procedures remains below the expectations. Work overload has been specified as one of numerous barriers limiting compliance with the directives. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of actual workload on compliance with the recommendations on hand hygiene and use of protective gloves by hospital medical personnel, as well as to recognize subjective opinions regarding the workload impact on compliance with hygiene procedures.
The study employed a quasi-participation method. It comprised all members of medical personnel (186 nurses and physicians) working at six wards of three hospitals of the Lodz region. A total of 1544 observation units were surveyed, with a total of 4101 hygiene-requiring activities. The workload was defined as an activity index and an effective workload index. An additional questionnaire survey was carried out in order to identify subjectively-perceived impediments in the application of hygiene recommendations.
Work overload has been specified as one of numerous barriers limiting compliance with the directives. The study confirmed the work overload impact on ignoring the hygiene recommendations. Medical personnel on night calls more seldom comply with hand hygiene than during the morning and day calls. The majority of medical personnel stated that reduced workload and more efficient work organization should contribute to the improvement of hygiene-related behaviors of medical personnel.
Higher work overload may increase the frequency of non-compliance with hand hygiene. There is a necessity for continuous education and improvement of professional qualifications of medical staff regarding hospital hygiene.
Medycyna pracy 01/2011; 62(4):369-76. · 0.30 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Polish system of public law provides for the possibility of forced subjection of a person to a medical procedure, both in case of infectious and mental illnesses. The authors discuss the cases of infectious illnesses, subject to compulsory treatment in outpatient medical care and to compulsory hospitalization, as well as the procedure protocol in case of suspicion or corroboration of an infectious illness case. Another reason for a physician's authorization to initiate a compulsory medical procedure without the patient's consent is suspicion of a mental illness; whenever the patients' behavior can endanger them, other persons or their immediate surroundings. Introduced is also a detailed description of actual status in order to illustrate an appropriate application of coercion means.
Medycyna pracy 01/2011; 62(1):67-72. · 0.30 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In this paper, the basic concepts concerning the liability of health care institution for nosocomial infections are presented. The principles of ex contracto and ex delicto liabilities, as well as the concept of so-called anonymous guilt are discussed. The range of duties for both the health care institution and the employed medical personnel is indicated, the duties and the consequences of their non-fulfillment are systematized, and the obligatory jurisdiction concerning the functioning of prima facie evidence is considered. The author aimed at explaining the principles governing the civil liability of health care institutions and their employees.
Medycyna pracy 01/2009; 60(4):335-43. · 0.30 Impact Factor
