Adherence to Infection Prevention and Control Practices among Health Care Workers and its Outcome in Non-covid Areas in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Aim and Objective: 1.To study the adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices by health care workers in Non-COVID areas.2. To compare the proportion of COVID affected health care workers among those adhering to proper IPC and those with non-adherence.Background: Hospitals serve as frontline health care institutions caring for the increased number of COVID-19 patients.The health care personnel working in hospitals are at increased risk of acquiring the disease during the pandemic.It is the prime responsibility of the Hospital Infection Control Committee to protect the health care workers (HCW) and prevent nosocomial transmission.Materials and Methods: In the cross sectional study,all health care workers from non-COVID areas of the hospital who were exposed to COVID-19 patient during the study period were assessed according to the risk assessment criteria.Results: A total of 1049 health care workers had contact with COVID-19 patients.Of this only 6 health care workers were diagnosed with COVID-19.Conclusion: The HCW diagnosed with COVID-19 was less than one percentage of exposed.This implies the impact that the IPC training had on the HCW which made them ensure their own safety and prevent the nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-2 within the hospital.