Preventing Central Line Infections among Hemodialysis Patients: Nurses' Knowledge and Practices in Accordance With Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: To assess nurses' knowledge and evaluate their practices according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)' Guidelines for prevention of central line infections among hemodialysis patients. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive cross sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION: Six months, from November 12, 2015 to April 19, 2016, in hemodialysis units of 04 Public Sector Hospitals of Lahore. METHODOLOGY: The study included all nurses who were providing Central Line care. Nurses' knowledge was assessed by using a self-structured questionnaire and their practices were evaluated by direct monitoring using an observational Checklist. RESULTS: Among total of 50 participants, all were female. 40% nurses were university graduates having Post RN degree. All participant nurses (100%) stated that hand hygiene was necessary to prevent infection but none of them (0%) washed hands prior and after the various procedures that demand hand washing. On the other hand, all of them (100%) wore gloves prior or after CVC manipulation. The study revealed that majority of the participants had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and practices (92% and 80% respectively) indicated by total knowledge and practice scores less than 75%. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study revealed nurses' low level of knowledge and practices. Therefore, hospitals are required to organize adequate trainings and to develop unit specific clinical guidelines and protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]