title: Description of nosocomial infection prevention practices by anesthesiologists in a university hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anesthesiologists play an important role in the prevention of nosocomial infections. In anesthetic practice, physiologic barriers are routinely breached, allowing patient contamination with microorganisms and the consequent development of infection. The lack of adhesion to recommended practices can facilitate transmission of microorganisms. It is important to describe prophylactic practices of anesthesia-related nosocomial infections performed by anesthesiologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured questionnaires were distributed to be answered voluntarily and anonymously by anesthesiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 112 anesthesiologists, 75% answered the questionnaire. Surgical mask is used by 95.2% of anesthesiologists, 96.3% wear gloves frequently, 98.9% wear sterile gloves for neuraxial block, 91.3% use sterile technique for central venous puncture, 95.1% wash their hands between cases, 91.6% try to maintain the endotracheal tube sterile, 96.3% discard the prefilled propofol syringe at the end of each anesthesia, 30% clean the vials before using it in the neuraxial blocks, and 19.8% clean the vials before intravenous use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respondents showed good adhesion to practices of nosocomial infection prophylaxis and to improve them educational multidisciplinary campaigns are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Anestesiologia Faculdade de Medicina da Universidadede São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas (HC) of Faculdade de Medicina of USP (FM/USP), Brazil. dk3www@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Rogério Luiz da Rocha
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Videira
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000592:standards*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires