Awareness of sterilization and disinfection among medical students and healthcare workers.

Background: Awareness and proper practice of sterilization and disinfection protocols can significantly reduce the risk of infection transmission associated with the use of invasive and noninvasive medical and surgical devices. Lack of knowledge and failure to comply with scientifically based guidelines has led to numerous outbreaks of lethal diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B and C as well as transmission of various bacterial infections. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study conducted among medical students and healthcare workers using a self administered questioner which was designed to assess the awareness of sterilization and disinfection among medical students, paramedical staff and doctors in a public sector hospital in Karachi. Results: Th e sample size and response rate were 356 and 100% respectively. Th e respondents included 66 doctors, 122 paramedics and 168 medical students. About 58.3% medical students and 62.1% doctors knew the difference between sterilization and disinfection but only 37.7% paramedics were aware of the difference. 79.8% medical students, 69.7% doctors and 60.7% paramedics had received the complete regimen of any vaccine. Overall, the awareness proportion of paramedical staff was significantly lower than doctors and medical students. Conclusion: Our results show that awareness of healthcare workers regarding sterilization and disinfection is not up to the mark. Many of them have not received the complete regimen of HBV vaccine. Th ere is therefore substantial need for the education and training programs to equip the healthcare workers with awareness and knowledge regarding sterilization and disinfection protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]