ABSTRACT
Introduction: About 1.4 million people around the world become seriously ill from Health Care Associated Infections at any given time The risk of infection in developing countries is 2 to 20 times higher than in developed countries and its incidence in India ranges from 5-30%. Aims and objectives:To study knowledge and practices regarding hand hygiene among Health Care Providers and to study the factors affecting the hand hygiene adherence Method:Cross sectional study conducted in tertiary care of hospital of Valsad. Prior oral informed consent was taken from the participants before the start of the study. An anonymous questionnaire formed as per WHO guidelines on hand hygiene was used as data collection tool. Results 64% medical and 72% paramedical staff has taken training in hand hygiene in last three years. 19.37% medical and 26.02% paramedical staff reported less time and more work load as barriers in implementing routine hand hygiene practices respectively. 20.93% medical and 6.97% paramedical staff reported training as an important factor for improved hand hygiene practices in the hospital. 66% staff of both groups correctly knows about required time needed for hand washing practice as per WHO guidelines whereas 26% medical and 44% paramedical staff doesn't have correct knowledge of hand hygiene practices when hands are visibly soiled Conclusion Lack of correct knowledge regarding hand hygiene practices among health care providers.
ABSTRACT
Background: Candida species are now recognized as major causative agents of hospital-acquired infection. One of the major factors contributing to the virulence of Candida is its ability to form surface-attached microbial communities known as "biofilms". The importance of Candida biofilms is because of its increased resistance to antifungal therapy and the ability of cells within biofilms to withstand host immune defenses. Objective: This study was undertaken with the objectives of isolating the Candida species and identifying its virulence factor – the biofilm and to determine the role of biofilm in pathogenicity. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted amongst the clinical specimens collected from the critical care wards of a tertiary care Hospital at Navi Mumbai from Jan 2009- Feb 2010. Care was taken to collect the samples before any anti fungal treatment. Candida spp were isolated and identified by standard techniques. Results: Out of total 200 different clinical specimens collected and processed, the most commonly isolated species was C. albicans(61.36 %) along with non albicans like C. parapsilosis (9.1%) C. pseudotropicalis (13.64 %) and C. glabrata (15.9%). Conclusion: The data suggests that the capacity of Candida species to produce biofilm appears to be a reflection of the pathogenic potential of the isolates. Isolates of Candida parapsilosis, Candida pseudotropicalisand Candida glabrata all gave significantly less biofilm growth then C. albicans.