Perceptions and attitudes of the professional staff concerning infection surveillance and control programs in Brazilian hospitals.
BACKGROUND
Several countries have conducted studies to assess the status of their infection control programs (ICP) with the objective of improving quality of infection control practices.


METHODS
To assess the perceptions and attitudes of the health care workers (HCW) concerning ICP in Brazilian hospitals, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered online questionnaire during a Web-based course (WBC) on infection control (IC) and antimicrobial resistance (AR).


RESULTS
Of 6256 Brazilian HCW registered for the WBC, 1998 were members of infection control committees (ICC) and answered the survey. Eight hundred six (40.4%) respondents said that an ICP was established for more than 10 years in their institutions. Most professionals reported that their hospitals perform microbiologic surveillance targeted at epidemiologically important multidrug-resistant organisms, but the majority underestimated the prevalence of AR.


CONCLUSIONS
Our survey highlights important information about the perceptions and attitudes of ICC members that may be used to tailor key interventions for implementing effective ICP. It suggests, additionally, that, to achieve countrywide standardized IC mechanisms in a developing country, authorities should consider the social, cultural, and economical disparities between regions and identify specific regional needs to make available the resources required to minimize such disparities.
Guerra
Carla Morales
CM
Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. carla.ccih@gmail.com
Ramos
Monica Parente
MP
Penna
Virginia Zagallo
VZ
Goto
Janaina Midori
JM
Santi
Leandro Queiroz
LQ
de Andrade Stempliuk
Valeska
V
Sallas
Janaina
J
Medeiros
Eduardo A S
EA
D001938:Brazil; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires