HEALTH FACILITY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED CASES OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS AMONG PATIENTS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT JINJA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

According to the HMIS report at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, it was found that 350 patients acquired nosocomial infections in 2021, 475 patients in 2022, and 490 patients in 2023, showing a striking increment in the prevalence of nosocomial infections which raises a major public health concern. This study aimed to identify health facility factors associated with increased cases of nosocomial infections among patients in the intensive care unit at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

 Methodology

A cross-sectional descriptive study with quantitative method of data collection was employed which involved 32 respondents selected by simple random sampling method. Data was collected using pre-tested questionnaires.

 Results

14(44%) were married, majority of the respondents 16(50%) went up to primary level, 18(56%) were unemployed. 30(94%) of the respondents never had health education or sensitization about nosocomial infections at the health facility, 25(78%) reported that there are inadequate health workers to offer treatment at the health facility, 12(38%) of the respondents reported that there are no infection control guidelines at the health facility and 16(50%) strongly disagreed that there were inadequate waste bins for waste segregation at the health facility.

 Conclusion

There is a challenge in the implementation of infection prevention and control among patients and health workers due to knowledge gaps thus increased nosocomial infection outbreaks

 Recommendation

Implementation of comprehensive infection control programs and surveillance of infections in hospitals by infection control committee, health education of hospital staff and patients on nosocomial infections to protect themselves from the contaminating microorganisms as well as from spreading pathogenic microorganisms themselves.