Cross infections and nurses' knowledge levels related to prevention of cross infections (Kirklareli sample)

The study has been done as supplementary and cross-sectional on the purpose of evaluation of nurses' knowledge levels related to prevention of cross infection and to develop some suggestions about what can be done to improve the current situation. The prevention of hospital- acquired infections occur with an effective infection control programme. When the hospitals which have infection control programme are compared to the others without infection control programme, it is seen that the hospitals which have succesful infection control programme have less hospital-acquired infection. However, although the infection rate is decreased as a result of effective programmes, these infections continue to be a problem. The nurses who work in Kırklareli Public Hospitals, Lüleburgaz Public Hospital and Babaeski Public Hospital constitute the study. 297 volunteer nurses who take part in the study constitute the sample group. As a result of the study; the nurses who took part in the study has been defined as being women, permanent staff, married and between 36-40 years old. Almost half of the nurses have been detected to be bachelor, have 6-10 years experience and worked in clinics. Moreover, many of the nurses taking part in the study worked in the daytime shift and keep guard at times. In terms of infection levels; infection protection is high, using glove is high, isolation is high, hand hygiene is high, waste is high. It has been considered that nurses who have 6-10 years experience, between 26-30 years old and work in daytime shift have higher knowledge levels. As a result, the nurses' cross infection knowledge levels are different depending on their socio- demographic aspects. In accordance with research findings, organising trainings about cross infection, improving infection awareness and more detailed researches can be adviced to be done.