Study of nosocomial respiratory infections and nurses' performance related to infection control measures in artificially ventilated patients

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on 30 ventilated patients and the 30 nurses who were responsible for their care. An observation checklist was used to assess nurses' practices regarding daily care activities, ventilator decontamination, use of universal infection control measures and the maintenance of the patients' care environment. A second sheet was developed to estimate the incidence of nosocomial respiratory infection and to identify the causative microorganisms. A third sheet was designed to help in the daily assessment of the patient's health condition. The study revealed a high incidence of nosocomial respiratory infections. Also, it was revealed that pseudomonas was the causative agents in more than one- fourth of the cases. Moreover, nurses' infection control practices were inadequate