Healthcare workers’ perceptions about infection prevention and control in Latin America

• Published in: American journal of infection control
• Main Authors: Fabre, Valeria, Herzig, Carolyn, Galarza, Lucy Anchiraico, Aquiles, Bowen, Arauz, Ana Belen, Bangher, Maria del Carmen, Bernan, Marisa L., Burokas, Sol, Cazali, Iris L., Colque, Angel, Comas, Marisabel, Contreras, Rosa Verónica, Cordoba, Maria Gabriela, Correa, Silvia Mabel, Campero, Gustavo Costilla, Chiroy, Aura, De Ascencao, Gabriela, García, Carlos Cruz, Ezcurra, Cecilia, Falleroni, Leandro, Fernandez, Johana, Ferrari, Sandra, Freire, Veronica, Garzón, Maria Isabel, Gonzales, José Anel, Guaymas, Lucrecia, Topanta, Fausto Guerrero, Lambert, Sandra, Laplume, Diego, Lazarte, Paola Romina, Maldonado, Herberth, Maurizi, Diego M., Manami, Sandra Miriam, Mesplet, Florencia, Izquierdo, Cristina Moreno, Nuccetelli, Yanina, Olmedo, Argelis, Palacio, Belén, Pellice, Florencia, Raffo, Carla Lorena, Ramos, Carolina, Reino, Fanny, Rodriguez, Viviana, Romero, Federico, Romero, Juan José, Sadino, Graciela, Sandoval, Nancy, Staneloni, Ines, Suarez, Mariana, Suayter, Maria Victoria, Ureña, Maria Alejandra, Valle, Marisol, Perez, Silvia Vera Amate, Videla, Hugo, Villamandos, Silvina, Villarreal, Olmedo, Viteri, Maria Alejandra, Warley, Eduardo, Rock, Clare, Bancroft, Elizabeth, Quiros, Rodolfo E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 10.10.2024
• Subjects: healthcare workers; infection prevention; Latin America; perceptions; perceptions; healthcare workers; infection prevention; Latin America
• ISSN: 0196-6553; 1527-3296; 1527-3296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.004

Limited information exists regarding healthcare workers’ (HCWs) perceptions about infection prevention and control (IPC) in Latin America. We conducted an electronic voluntary anonymous survey to assess HCWs’ perceptions towards IPC in 30 hospitals in Latin America during August-September 2022. Nurses, physicians, and environmental cleaning (EVC) staff were prioritized for recruitment. Overall, 1,340 HCWs completed the survey. Of these, 28% were physicians, 49% nurses, 8% EVC staff, and 15% had “other” roles. Self-compliance with hand hygiene (HH) and prevention bundles was perceived to be high by 95% and 89% of respondents, respectively; however, ratings were lower when asked about compliance by their peers (reported as high by 81% and 75%, respectively). Regular training on IPC and access to healthcare-associated infections (HAI) rates were more limited among physicians than other HCWs (e.g., 87% of EVC staff and 45% of physicians reported training upon hiring and thereafter, 60% of nurses and 51% of physicians reported regular access to HAI rate reports). We identified several opportunities to strengthen IPC practices in Latin American hospitals, including improving HCW education and training on IPC and their awareness of HAI rates and compliance with prevention measures. •Healthcare workers perceived compliance with prevention bundles and hand hygiene (HH) by peers to be lower than their own•Up to 40% of participants were not aware of the local HH compliance or healthcare-associated infection rates•Up to 40% of participants reported no or occasional training in IPC