Assessment of Knowledge regarding Hospital Acquired infections (Nosocomial Infections) among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospitals of Uttar Dinajpur

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a significant challenge in healthcare settings, particularly in resource-constrained regions like Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal, India. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of HAIs among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary care hospital, identify gaps in awareness across different categories (doctors, nurses, technicians), and explore factors influencing their understanding, such as training and access to resources. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 200 HCWs (60 doctors, 100 nurses, 40 technicians) using a structured questionnaire covering HAI causes, transmission, prevention, and barriers to infection control. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency tables, and Welch’s One-Way ANOVA. Results revealed significant differences in knowledge levels across categories (F(2, 110) = 106, p < .001), rejecting the null hypothesis. Doctors demonstrated the highest knowledge (mean score: 8.5/10), followed by nurses (6.0/10), and technicians (4.0/10). Key gaps included technicians’ low confidence in identifying HAI signs (70% not/slightly confident) and poor understanding of transmission modes (e.g., only 37.5% correctly identified MRSA transmission). Factors such as limited training (only 15% of technicians received training in the last year) and lack of access to guidelines (75% of technicians reported no access) significantly influenced knowledge disparities. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted training programs, particularly for technicians and nurses, to enhance HAI prevention practices and reduce infection rates in Uttar Dinajpur’s healthcare system.