The rate of following infection control principles in educational hospitals of Khorramabad

Background: Nosocomial infections are the most important problems of health. The prevalence of nosocomial infection is 7-10 percent of admitted patients. the present study was carried out to determine the degree of following the preventive principles of nosocomial infections in educational hospitals of Khorramabad city at 2004-2005. Material and methods: This descriptive, cross –sectional study covered all wards (23 wards) of educational hospitals expect operation rooms. Physical environment, resources and equitpment and staff practice on infection control were observed. Data were collected by two checklists. Wards status and staff practice were categorized to three levels ( good , medium and low) . Collected data were analyzed by SPSS V.11 software. Results: The degree of following infection control principles in most of the personnel’s was medium (53.7%) and in hand washing was low (90%). Wards status about physical environment (47.83%), resources and equipment (78.3%) were medium level. Conclusion: Continuous education of personnel in different job categories, using instruments and methods to reduce infection, improvement of resources and equipment and physical environment, establishment of National Nosocomial Infection surveillance system (NNISS), yearly epidemiological investigations and performing regular microbiological cultures are the most important strategies for infection control, that must be performed in educational hospitals.