title: Knowledge and practice of occupational infection control among healthcare workers in Jamaica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, compliance and practice among healthcare workers of occupational infection control at two hospitals in Jamaica.
  
  
  METHODS
  Employing a cross-sectional study design, medical personnel (physicians and nurses) at two hospitals in Jamaica, were studied, utilizing a structured questionnaire consisting of 14 items to collect the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants considered the following fluids, not blood stained, high risk for HIV transmission: breast milk (79%), saliva (14%), urine (27%), pleural fluid (53%), CSF (55%), synovial fluid (37%), faeces (27%), peritoneal fluid (53%) and vomitus (21%). The respondents estimated the risk of transmission of infection after a needlestick injury from a patient with: HIV, mean 22.5%, HB, 34% and HCV, 26%. Needles for drawing blood were identified as having the highest risk for transmission of infections in 63%. The following precautions were adhered to all the time: wearing gloves (38%), not re-sheathing needles (22%), not passing needles directly to others (70%), properly disposing of sharps (86%) and regarding patients' blood and other high risk fluid as potentially infected (62%). Post exposure, 43% indicated bleeding/squeezing the NSI site as the initial first-aid procedure, washing with soap and water (29%) and irrigating the area with water (20%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare workers are aware of the risk of transmission of infection, however compliance with universal precautions was inadequate. An improvement in knowledge and practice with clear guidelines are needed and a comprehensive programme to educate HCWs regarding compliance with universal precautions is urgently required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: McGaw
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frankson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D016635:Universal Precautions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult