Audit of standardized precautionary and contact practices in the Intensive Care Unit

To evaluate the structure and adherence to the standardized and specific precautionary measures of health professionals in the Intensive Care Unit of a teaching hospital in the Federal District of Brazil.

A descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study. A structured questionnaire was used via observations which recorded the practices of professionals with Individual Protection Equipment and indications of precautions. The chi-square test was applied, and the p-value was calculated.

A total of 52 professionals participated in the study, and 445 care procedures were observed in 36 audit sessions. The average adhesion rate for equipment use was 72.72%, with 94.91% for gloves, 91.43% for aprons, 80% for masks and 24.56% for safety glasses. When there was no indication and no personal protective equipment was used, the average rate was 68.01%, with 30.77% for gloves, 87.58% for aprons, 57.58% for masks, and 96.13% for safety glasses. Contact precautions were unnecessarily indicated for 35% of patients.

Good adherence to using gloves, aprons and masks were observed, but there was poor adherence to using safety glasses and unnecessary use of masks and admission contact precautions.