Background: HIV/AIDS infection in health care facility has become a major health problem. Especially in resource poor setting health care workers are managing huge number of HIV infected patients that made them to be more exposed to HIV infection. This situation makes the knowledge of standard precaution and use of post exposure prophylaxis for HIV very important.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge of interns on universal precautions and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, and to identify the gap between knowledge and practice relating to universal precautions.
Methods: The study was conducted on 100 interns of 2011-12 batches from a private-run medical college in Mysore, India. All participants completed a self-administered questionnaire with items relating to basic components of universal precautions and postexposure prophylaxis for HIV.
Results: Adherence was poor in the use of personal protective equipment, hand washing, safe handling and disposal of needles and sharp objects were found with respect to practices for which the interns had correct knowledge. Although the majority of the respondents (80%) expressed awareness of washing sites if injured, with soap and water, approximately 30% did not know that antiseptics could cause more damage. Also, only 84% expressed awareness of reporting any incidence of occupational exposure, while knowledge on postexposure prophylaxis was good but regarding regimens was generally found to be poor. Conclusion: There was considerable gap between knowledge and practice of universal precautions and inadequate knowledge of post- exposure prophylaxis. This emphasizes the need for continuous onsite training of interns with regular supervision and monitoring of their activities.
