BACKGROUND/AIMS

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major issue in hospitals worldwide. Isolation precautions are considered necessary to reduce the spread of HAIs. The failure of nurses to comply with isolation precautions may have a negative impact on both nursing care and the psychological and social lives of patients and their families. Therefore, this study aims to identify the level of nurse compliance with isolation precautions taken to prevent HAIs and to develop suggestions in line with the results obtained.

MATERIAL and METHODS

This work consisted of a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study population was 180 nurses working in a private hospital in Nicosia, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Although it aimed to reach the entire population, the study sample consisted of 110 nurses. Data were collected between May and June 2017, using an Information Form and the Compliance with Isolation Precautions Scale.

RESULTS

Nearly all the nurses had adequate knowledge about HAIs and isolation precautions. The study results showed that nurses had a high level of compliance with isolation precautions for preventing hospital infections.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that it may be advisable to increase the number of continuous education programs that encourage nurses and healthcare professionals to comply with infection control measures and isolation precautions at the highest level and to raise their awareness about the importance of hand hygiene habits and immunization against HAIs.

Keywords: Nurse, infection, healthcare, prevention, isolation, compliance