Major article Health care workers’ knowledge and practices regarding the prevention of central venous catheter-related infection Sameer A. Alkubati PhD, RN a, *, Nadia T. Ahmed PhD, RN b , Osama N.E. Mohamed PhD c , Akram M. Fayed PhD d , Hayam I. Asfour PhD, RN b a Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hodeidah University, Hodeidah, Yemen b Department of Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt c Department of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt d Department of Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt Key Words: Central venous catheter Knowledge Practice Central venous catheter-related infection Prevention Background: Central venous catheter-related infection (CVC-RI) is considered a common cause of increased morbidity, mortality, and medical care costs in intensive care units (ICUs). The objective in this descriptive study was to assess the knowledge of health care workers in ICUs about guidelines for the prevention of CVC-RI and their adherence to these guidelines in practices. Methods: Health care workers were assessed for their actual practices during central venous catheter (CVC) insertion and care. Then a questionnaire was distributed to the health care workers to assess their knowledge regarding the prevention of CVC-RI. Results: All the health care workers (N ¼ 100; 40 physicians, 60 nurses) in the ICUs (levels I and III and triage) of Alexandria Main University Hospital participated in the present study. The response rate was 100%. The total percentage of correct answers of the health care workers about the guidelines for the prevention of CVC-RI was low. There was no significant difference between physicians’ and nurses’ knowledge regarding the total score on the questionnaire (P ¼ .134). However, physicians had a signif- icantly higher knowledge about the pathophysiology of CVC-RI and skin antisepsis items than nurses. There were no significant differences between the knowledge of physicians and nurses in other items except for CVC care, where nurses showed significantly higher knowledge than physicians (P ¼ .001). Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed health care worker’s low knowledge regarding the prevention of CVC-RI and low compliance with the standard guidelines of CVC care. Therefore, health care workers should be periodically evaluated for their knowledge and practices regarding guidelines for the prevention of CVC-RI. Copyright Ó 2014 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Central venous catheter-related infection (CVC-RI) is considered the first cause of health careeassociated infections in intensive care units (ICUs). The infections occur in the range of 3%-8% of inserted catheters. 1,2 The term is used to describe the following 3 conditions: central venous catheter (CVC) colonization, CVC bloodstream infection, and skin exit site infection. 3 It is considered a common cause of medical care costs, excess morbidity, and mortality in ICUs. Although the rates of CVC-RI are high, they can be prevented by several interventions, and efforts have been made to eliminate it. 4,5 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize the major areas for prevention of CVC-RI, which include educating and training health care workers who insert and maintain CVCs. These areas include the following: using maximal sterile barrier precautions during CVC insertion, using a 2% chlorhexidine skin preparation with alcohol for antisepsis, avoiding routine replacement of CVCs as a strategy to prevent infection, and using chlorhexidine-impregnated sponge dressings. 6 Maintaining proper procedures for insertion and maintenance of CVCs and appropriate infection control measures (eg, assessment of health care workers’ knowledge and practices) should be regularly repeated and stimulated in ICUs. 6 Compliance of health care workers with the clinical practice guidelines during insertion and care of CVCs has been proven to reduce CVC-RI. 7,8 In addition, they are directly involved in preventing infection by per- forming, monitoring, and assuring compliance with aseptic work * Address correspondence to Sameer A. Alkubati, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, Alexandria University, Postal code 21527, Edmon Fremon St, Smouha, Alexandria, Egypt. E-mail address: alkubatisa@yahoo.com (S.A. Alkubati). Conflict of interest: None to report. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect American Journal of Infection Control journal homepage: www.ajicjournal.org American Journal of Infection Control 0196-6553/$36.00 - Copyright Ó 2014 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2014.09.021 American Journal of Infection Control xxx (2014) e1-e5