RESUMO
Standard Precautions (SP) are effective strategies to prevent and control nosocomial infections. This study aimed to verify nurses' understanding about standard precaution measures. Data were collected through interviews, followed by content analysis in accordance with Bardin. Eighty-two nurses took part in this study, 75.6% of whom understand SP as protective measures: for professionals (11.0%); for both professionals and patients (52.4%); for patient care independently of the diagnosis (7.3%); for patients with diagnosed infection (9.8%). Other nurses indicated SP as human care (4.9%) and only as Individual Protection Equipment (IPE) (11.0%). Most participants' understanding points to favorable cognitive adaptation to the daily implementation of SP. However, reductionist and even mistaken perceptions about their range persist, which makes the social function of these measures vulnerable.
Assuntos
Infecção Hospitalar/prevenção & controle , Hospitais Públicos , Recursos Humanos de Enfermagem Hospitalar , Precauções Universais , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil , Competência Clínica , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
We carried out a before-after non-controlled intervention study to assess the impact of different handwashing strategies in health care workers at a neonatal ICU in Goiânia - Goiás, Brazil. All ethical aspects were considered. Data was collected by using a check list in order to register hand hygiene opportunities during six months. Three strategies were elaborated together with the hospital team. We observed 1358 handwashing opportunities. Incentive strategies caused a small impact on the increase of adherence to hand hygiene during and after the implementation period. However, we noticed that this increase mainly occurred after the procedures were realized. On the whole, adherence levels were similar before (62.2%) and after (61.6%) the procedures. The study showed that health care workers were more worried about individual risks.
Assuntos
Educação Continuada em Enfermagem , Desinfecção das Mãos , Pessoal de Saúde , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal , Brasil , Coleta de Dados , Fidelidade a Diretrizes , Desinfecção das Mãos/normas , Humanos , Controle de Infecções , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
We aimed at identifying the period of validity of the sterilization of items by humid heat, taking into account the conditions of sterilization and storage. The validation was carried out by means of microbiological tests performed with instruments in the same load and evaluated in 0, 7, 10, 15, and 25 days. 30% of the instruments in each package were analysed and put in a Mueller Hinton solution and incubated at 37 degrees C for 72 hours. The reading was accomplished taking into consideration how dark the solution was. Out of the samples evaluated in nine loads, none showed microbiological growth. It was concluded that, although sterilization and storage conditions of the material were not fully in accordance with parameters recommended by the literature, the sterilization happened and was maintained for a period of 25 days.