Evaluation of the implementation of the nosocomial infection control program in the emergency department of teaching hospitals of Gorgan, Iran

In hospitals, the emergency department is a complex healthcare environment, and it is necessary to attention to nosocomial infections. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of nosocomial infection program in the emergency department.

This descriptive study was conducted in hospitals of Gorgan, Iran, in 2022, using the WHO checklist with 96 questions in 9 section staff; patients, environment, equipment, drug, prevention of infections wound, urinary, respiratory, and blood. Data were collected via observation and interviews. A checklist containing 45 questions was used to determine the impact of staff awareness on the infection control program, in 4 sections oftheoretical knowledge, performing procedures, immunization, and environmental hygiene.

The results show that 82.46% of the infection control program was satisfactory. The percentage of scores for different sections of nosocomial infection program including staff, patients, environment, equipment, drug, infection prevention of wound, urinary, respiratory and blood  was 79.31, 77.78,  81.25,  83.34, 100, 44.34, 75.00, 87.88 and 100, respectively. Moreover, the percentage awareness score for emergency medicine specialists, general practitioners, medical interns, and nurses was 100, 95.83, 87.5, and 79.92, respectively.

The implementation quality of the infection control program was acceptable and satisfactory. However, some factors were lower than the desired level, which could be dangerous for medical staff, patients, and visitors. The medical staff believed that the support of the senior managers of the University was essential for the implementation of an infection control program, and also holding training courses, and accelerating data sharing.