Abstract

Nosocomial infection otherwise known as hospital- acquired infections, are those infections acquired in the hospital or healthcare unit service that first appear 48hours or more after hospital admission or within 30 days after discharge following in patient care. According to the causes, the hospital environment is a potential reservoir of bacterial pathogens since it houses both patients with diverse pathogenic microorganisms and a large number of susceptible immune compromised individual.

Following the complication of Nosocomial infections like; urinary tract infections, pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections and some preventive measures such as fully disinfecting skin and equipment, washing hands regularly and wearing protective equipment. This study was a hospital base descriptive cross-sectional study and was conducted from December 2022 to April 2023 among nursing students in Regional Hospital Limbe. Questionnaires were distributed to all participants and data was collected and represented on frequency tables, bar chats and pie charts using Excel 2010 and analysed.

Due to the research carried out and the results from the correspondents, it is concluded that 60% of the respondents are aware of the causes while 15% are aware of the complications and 60% also aware of the preventions.

It is therefore, recommended that there is a need for the supervision of the students on internship sites by the health personnel, making sure nursing students make good use of their personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of infection. And also school staffs should teach students more on the causes, complications and prevention of nosocomial infection.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 1.1. Background of the Study

Nosocomial or hospital acquired infections (HAI) are frequent, complications affecting hospitalized patients within 48 hours of addmision. The hospital environment is a potential reservoir of bacterial pathogens since it houses both patients with diverse pathogenic microorganisms and a large number of susceptible immune compromised individual. The increased frequency of bacterial pathogen in hospital environment is associated with a background rise in various types of nosocomial infections. [2].

Bacterial pathogens that can survive in the hospital environment for long period of time and resist disinfection are causes of nosocomial infections. [3]. Bacterial pathogens isolated from hospital environments are also known to develop resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. The emergence of multidrug resistance organisms in hospital resulted in difficulty to treat nosocomial infections [4].

In some Europeans countries (Belgium, Luxembourg and United Kingdom), incidences vary from 1% for all types of nosocomial infections and up to 23.6% in paediatric intensive care units (ICUs) [6]. Paediatric ICUs studies account for incidences between 6.1 – 15.1% [6.7], while others in cross-sectional studies reported a prevalence of 11.9% and 33% [8.9]

In Africa, the highest prevalence of HAIs was reported in Uganda (28, 0%) [9], followed by Tunisia (25, 2%) [10], Morocco (22, 2%), Benin republic (19, 1%) and Ethiopia (14, 1%). The lowest prevalence of HAIs was reported in another Tunisia study (7, 2%) [11] Followed by South Africa (7, 6%) and Ghana (8, 2%) [12].

In Cameroon, the national prevalence of nosocomial infection is not known, however, the prevalence of NI in the ICU in the Laquintinie hospital Douala was 12% [13]. There are limited information concerning nosocomial infections in Cameroon.

Despite the advance in modern medicine nosocomial infection still poses a risk of increased morbidity and mortality to patients. For this, the hospital environment may play a significant role. It is thereby important to identify environmental surfaces that are prone bacteria and have the potential to harbour pathogens. [5].

1.2. Rationale.

Nosocomial infections accounts for a high percentage of death worldwide. A study reported in Pune city, India by Manisha G et al (2018) reveals that nosocomial infections affected a greater number of student’s nurses accounting for 20-25% of death and BSc intent student nurses from Bharati Vidyapeeth University College of [14] nurses were mostly affected during this study. Another study reported in Europe by Lidwell  et al (2012) [15] [France, Belgium and United Kingdom].on nosocomial infections reveals that student nurses had limited knowledge and where most affected and this accounted to 35-45 % death existing among student nurses.

In Cameroon many nursing students go for clinical practice in the hospital without adequate knowledge on infection control and are also exposed to the dirty environments of the hospital. Most students neglect the use of personal protective equipment due to lack of adequate knowledge on nosocomial infection.

Consequently, many nursing students are prone to nosocomial infection and the acquired infection can affect them negatively thus, Assessing nursing students’ knowledge on the causes, complications and prevention of nosocomial infection is necessary.

1.3. Goal

The goal of this research is to assess nursing students’ knowledge on the causes, complications and prevention of nosocomial infections in Regional Hospital Limbe.

1.3. General Objectives

To assess nursing students’ knowledge on the causes, complications and preventions of nosocomial infections in Regional Hospital Limbe

1.4. Specific Objectives

1. To assess nursing students’ knowledge on the causes of nosocomial infections in Regional Hospital Limbe
2. To assess nursing students’ knowledge on the complications of nosocomial infections in Regional Hospital Limbe
3. To asses nursing students’ knowledge on the prevention of nosocomial infections in Regional Hospital Limbe

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