Challenges faced by nurses in implementing aseptic techniques at the surgical wards of the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon

Surgical site infection is a significant clinical problem leading to morbidity and mortality as it can result to infections, pain, misery and unnecessary increase in health cost. Thus, this study sought to identify challenges and barriers that nurse face in the use of aseptic technique and its application in wound dressing at the surgical unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital. This was a cross-sectional hospital based survey. Questionnaires were administered to 20 nurses randomly selected. Demographics and nurses' knowledge and barriers faced in the implementation of the aseptic techniques and was analyzed. It was observed that 20% of the nurses follow aseptic techniques strictly, while a majority (80%) have never followed aseptic techniques seriously, with major reasons mentioned by the participants being restrained supply of equipment's and financial constraints of patients. From this study, it can be deduced that despite the awareness, of nurses on the importance of aseptic techniques, its application still remains low among them due to the various challenges they face with limited resources of patients and also inadequate materials at their disposals for use in wound management.