title: Endemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Nurses' risk perceptions and attitudes.
abstract: Dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains one of the most difficult challenges for prevention, control, and treatment of health care-associated infections. A survey and interviews were conducted on nurses from a hospital center. We found that most nurses' perceived risk of acquiring MRSA related to themselves (72%), other nurses (88.5%), and patients (97.8%). This perception influences attitudes, leading to compliance with the existing recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Committee, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: analuisapedro@netcabo.pt.
authors.forename: Ana Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pedro
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Department, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sousa-Uva
authors.affiliation: Programa de Prevenção e Controlo de Infecção e Resistência aos Antimicrobianos, Direcção Geral de Saúde, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pina
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009726:Nurses; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Behavior; Infection control; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Risk perception; Staphylococcus aureus