Profile of anesthetic infection control in Taiwan: a questionnaire report

Abstract

Study objective: To evaluate compliance of anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists with personal hygiene and anesthetic equipment disinfection procedures in Taiwan.

Design: Survey instrument.

Setting: Anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists working in medical and non-medical centers in Taiwan.

Participants: 81 anesthesiologists and 181 nurse anesthetists working in medical and non-medical centers.

Measurements and main results: Questionnaires were sent to 500 anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in Taiwan. Two hundred sixty-two (52%) completed questionnaires (127 from medical centers and 135 from non-medical centers). Completed questionnaires were divided into two groups: those from medical centers (Group A) and those from non-medical centers (Group B). There was no significant difference in personal hygienic practices (wearing gloves and washing hands) between Groups A and B. There were significant differences between anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in wearing gloves (65.3% vs. 82%; P = 0.001) and hand washing (52.6% vs. 70.4%; P = 0.003). Medical center anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists performed better than their non-medical-center counterparts when using disinfection procedures and disinfectants for laryngoscope blades and the cleaning of fiberscopes.

Conclusions: Teaching programs should include anesthesia infection control in the curriculum for anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists.