NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION ABSTRACT

                                                     ABSTRACTNOSOCOMIAL INFECTION

In developing countries like Nigeria, the incidence of nosocomial infections can be devastating resulting in major disease outbreak in hospitals and other health care facilities. This research was conducted to determine the knowledge and practice of prevention of nosocomial infections among trained nurses in surgical wards of UNTH Ituku-Ozalla Enugu. This study serves as a motivation to trained nurses in surgical wards of UNTH Ituku-Ozalla Enugu and also as a base for other research work on nosocomial infections. A descriptive research design was used. The total population used for the study was trained nurses in surgical wards of UNTH Ituku-Ozalla Enugu. The total population for the study was one hundred and two (102) out of which fifty (50) were selected using availability sampling technique. The instrument for the data collection was questionnaire containing 21 structured questions. Fifty questionnaires were distributed and the same were collected back after completion. Through this study, the researcher was able to find out the level of knowledge and practice of prevention of nosocomial infections among trained nurses in surgical wards of UNTH Ituku-Ozalla Enugu and the factors that hinder this practice. The findings revealed that 98% of the respondents have heard about nosocomial infections while 2% have not. 78% of the respondents practice prevention of nosocomial infections while 22% do not. 94% of the respondents expressed that they have hinderances to the practice of prevention of nosocomial infections. The hinderances include poor working environment 26%, poor knowledge about prevention of nosocomial infection 10%, and lack of water for handwashing and other material resources 58%. The researcher concluded that majority of the trained nurses in surgical wards of UNTH Ituku-Ozalla Enugu have knowledge about the prevention of nosocomial infections but not all practice it due to lack of equipments and poor working environment.