ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) affects the morbidity and mortality of inpatients worldwide. Nepal is a developing country in which HAIs pose a major problem in terms of patient safety. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude toward HAIs and compliance for infection control among nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire including general characteristics, and knowledge of, attitude toward, and compliance with HAI control practices, on a sample of 259 nurses from 11 hospitals in 3 cities in Nepal, from July 17 to August 5, 2014. RESULTS: The average score on knowledge of HAI was 6.56, on a 13-point scale. In total, 59 nurses had undergone HAI control training and 211 nurses reported that they were governed by some guidelines, but there were no significant differences. The overall level of compliance with HAI control guidelines was 79.2 points based on a 100-point scale, which did not differ in terms of age, exposure to infection control training, and the presence of any guidelines. CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge of HAI control among nurses was very low and a majority had never undergone any HAI control training. Evidently, there is an urgent need to provide HAI control training to nurses, and to develop infrastructure to provide training for them.