ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF HAND HYGIENE AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THE AIMSR AND DISTRICT GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL OF CHITTOOR, ANDHRA PRADESH- AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

BACKGROUND As the number of multi-drug resistant bacteria is increasing worldwide, it is essential to know the proper steps of hand washing in order to protect both the patient and the doctor. This study was under taken in the district hospital to throw light on the existing hand hygiene practices among the health care workers and to implement certain hand hygiene policies or practices in our hospital. METHODS The study was done at the District Hospital and AIMSR Hospital, Chittoor. As it is a collaboration of both the Government and Apollo Hospitals, the study was done on Apollo employees who were about 100 in all. We used a standard WHO questionnaire which was distributed to the participants along with their consent. The results were analysed and compiled. RESULTS In our study, we found that though the knowledge about hand hygiene is present, their day to day implementation seems to have been lost. We also can see that 17 doctors agreed that hand washing immediately after body fluid contact is not needed. Many also believed that hand washing is not needed before touching a patient even for a physical examination. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the following study was done to throw light on such malpractices and to implement proper hand washing practices for the betterment of the patient and the health care worker.