Challenges faced by nurses in implementing aseptic techniques at the surgical wards of the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon

Abstract

Aseptic technique is the use of practices and procedures such as hand hygiene, non-touch techniques, appropriate aseptic field, sterilized equipments and cleaning existing key parts to minimize the presence of disease causing pathogens. While asepsis applies to both medical and surgical procedures which is the absence of potential pathogenic micro-organisms. Compliance with these techniques for infection control is important for the safety of patients and personnel’s as this will reduce nosocomial infections in the units and resulting in patients’ shorter stay in the hospital thus a cost reduction in medical aids unlike when there are infections which will results in increased intuitional cost due to a longer stay in hospital admissions. The goal of aseptic technique is to reach asepsis and each healthcare setting has its own principles and guidelines in achieving asepsis. Preventing surgical site contamination requires the efforts of all in involved in care of the patient to use their theoretical knowledge and experience in aseptic practices to provide patients with optimal care resulting in positive outcomes. In Cameroon there is inadequate data regarding nurse’s knowledge, practices and the barriers they faced in the implementation of aseptic techniques thus giving the investigators the motivation to carry out this investigation. A cross-sectional study was carried out through the administration of a structured questionnaire to healthcare providers (nurses) of the Bamenda Regional Hospital. The study took place at the surgical unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon. Our study population were nurses working at the surgical unit. All 20 nurses who constantly came in contact with patients with septic wounds for dressing working at the surgical unit were given informed consent and after approval to participate in the study were administered questionnaires. All 20 nurses who constantly came in contact with patients with septic wounds for dressing working at the surgical unit were included in the study. The instrument used for data collection was a well-structured questionnaire designed according to the objectives. The structured questionnaire had two major sections; demographics section and section that investigated the knowledge of the nurses on antiseptic techniques.