Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Nurses toward the Management of Hospital-Acquired Infections in Private Hospitals: An Empirical Study

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a major challenge to patient safety and healthcare quality. This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of nurses toward HAI prevention and management in selected private hospitals in Chennai. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and data were collected from 160 nurses using a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using frequencies and percentages. The findings indicate that nurses demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitudes, and favourable practices regarding infection prevention, particularly hand hygiene, patient isolation, pathogen transmission, and adherence to infection-control guidelines. The study highlights the importance of continuous training, supervision, and institutional support to strengthen infection prevention and control practices among nurses.