Training in relation to the prevention of air- and blood-borne infections
was lacking for a number of HCWs. In particular, one fifth of the
respondents reported having received no training on isolation procedures
(28.4%), the use of PPE (24.4%) and how to prevent the acquisition
of needle-stick injuries (21.1%). More than one third of the HCWs
had received no training on tuberculosis infection control measures
(35%). The importance of training was evident from the significant
association observed between training and screening for tuberculosis,
and use of N95® respirators. Of the HCWs who had been screened for
tuberculosis, 81.2% had also received training on tuberculosis infection
control (p-value < 0.05). Similarly, of the HCWs who always wore N95®
respirators when the situation demanded it, 76.8% were also trained on
tuberculosis infection control and 91.4% were trained on the use of PPE
(p-value < 0.05).