How and how much do endoscopy professionals protect themselves against infection?

Area of Science:

• Infection Control
• Occupational Health
• Gastroenterology Nursing

Background:

• Endoscopic procedures carry inherent risks of infectious disease transmission.
• Healthcare professionals in endoscopy units require specific training to mitigate these risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the training provided to endoscopy professionals regarding infectious risks.
• To evaluate the awareness and practices of these professionals in infection prevention.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 50 physicians and 34 nurses in hospital endoscopy units.
• The survey assessed training received on endoscopy procedures and universal precautions.
• Data were analyzed using SPSS, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Main Results:

• Over half of the participants received no formal endoscopy training, relying on a master/apprentice system.
• A significant majority (65%) lacked training in universal precautions for endoscopic procedures.
• While gown and glove use was high, other precautions like masks and face shields were less common.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopy professionals demonstrate suboptimal application of universal precautions due to insufficient basic training.
• Professionals who received training showed better adherence to safety protocols.
• Implementing continuous training programs is essential to enhance universal precautions and reduce infection risks.