Mitchell, Brett G., Russo, Philip L., Kiernan, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9926-7781 and Curryer, Cassie (2020) Nurses' and midwives’ cleaning knowledge, attitudes and practices: An Australian study. Infection, Disease & Health.

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Abstract

Background
As frontline providers of care, nurses and midwives play a critical role in controlling infections such as COVID-19, influenza, multi-drug resistant organisms and health care associated infections. Improved cleaning can reduce the incidence of infection and is cost effective but relies on healthcare personnel to correctly apply cleaning measures. As nurses and midwives have the most contact with patients and as an important first step in improving compliance, this study sought to explore nurses’ and midwives’ knowledge on the role of the environment in infection prevention and control and identify challenges in maintaining clean patient environments.
Methods
Cross-sectional online survey of 96 nurses (RN/EN) and midwives (RW) employed in clinical settings (e.g. hospital, aged care, medical centre, clinic) in Australia.
Results
Nurses and midwives broadly stated that they understood the importance of cleaning. However, cleaning responsibilities varied and there was confusion regarding the application of different disinfectants when cleaning after patients with a suspected or diagnosed infection post-discharge. Most would not be confident being placed in a room where a previous patient had a diagnosed infection such as multi-drug resistant organism.
Conclusion
Greater organisational support and improving applied knowledge about infection control procedures is needed. This includes correct use of disinfectants, which disinfectant to use for various situations, and cleaning effectively following discharge of a patient with known infection. The cleanliness of shared medical equipment may also pose current risk due to lack of cleaning.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1016/j.idh.2020.09.002
Additional Information:	In kind support is provided by the higher education institutions with which the Chief Investigators are affiliated. PLR is supported by National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowships APP1156312.
Keywords:	Cleaning, Infection prevention and control, Patient environment, Shared equipment, Education, Applied knowledge
Subjects:	Medicine and health > Nursing > Nursing practice Medicine and health Medicine and health > Midwifery Medicine and health > Nursing
Depositing User:	Jisc Router
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2020 18:16
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2024 16:04
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/7401

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