RESUMO
The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of continuous quality improvement [CQI] methodology in improving selected nurses' infection control practices at a general hospital in Alexandria. The study population consisted of important infection control practices performed by nurses. Important practices were defined as high-volume, high-risk, high-cost, and problem-prone activities. Based on these criteria, three practices were selected: [1] handwashing, [2] surgical site dressing, and [3] peripheral intravenous catheterization. The present study used pre-test post-test design to examine nurses' practices before and after implementation of CQI project. It consisted of the following three distinct phases: [1] observation of nurses' practices before intervention, [2] implementation of a quality improvement project, and [3] observation of nurses' practices following implementation of the project. After implementation of CQI interventions, the percentage of times in which indicated handwashing/alcohol hand rubbing was performed increased from 1.7% to 2.8%, and the percentage of times nurses complied with recommended handwashing practices increased for 5 of actual 7 steps. Nurses' practices of surgical site dressing technique showed statistically significant improvement in all 12 steps after implementation of CQI interventions. The proportion of occasions in which nurses complied with recommended procedure for peripheral intravenous catheterization significantly improved after implementation of CQI intervention in 9 of 12 steps