title: Nurses' knowledge and care practices for infection prevention in neutropenic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neutropenia-associated infections can prolong hospitalization, increase re-admission, mortality and morbidity rates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine nurses' knowledge and infection control care practices in neutropenic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study was conducted between January 2012 and May 2012, at oncology adult inpatient units of a university hospital in Turkey. Sample consisted of 51 staff nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected by a form included sociodemographic characteristics, neutropenia knowledge questions, and infection control care practices. Each nurse was observed by researcher three times for infection control care practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score of nurses' knowledge was 21.3 ± 2.4 (min. 17; max. 27). For all three observations hand hygiene adherence was found low both in medication preparation, administration and vital signs assessment. Sterility disrupted in almost all preparation of parenteral medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even nurses' knowledge related with neutropenia and care of neutropenic patient was found above average their infection control care practices were found insufficient.
authors: a Faculty of Nursing , Hacettepe University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors: Gul Hatice
authors: GH
authors: Tarakcioglu Celik
authors: a Faculty of Nursing , Hacettepe University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors: Fatos
authors: F
authors: Korkmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
keywords: assessment of vital signs; infection control; neutropenic patients; nursing care; oncology nursing; preparation of medications