Infection control knowledge, beliefs and behaviours amongst cystic fibrosis patients with epidemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Table 4 Patient beliefs regarding relative importance of an item in potentially propagating infection transmission^a

Situation	Epidemic P. aeruginosa (n = 30)	Compared to those with chronic unique P. aeruginosa strains		Compared to the rest of the clinic cohort irrespective of P. aeruginosa status
Situations associated with risk of transmitting infections	Epidemic P. aeruginosa (n = 30)	UNI (n = 66)	P Value	ENT (n = 112)	OR, P value
Patients not washing hands	6 (6–7)	6 (5–7)	0.69	6 (6–7)	0.84
Health care workers not washing hands	7 (6–7)	7 (6–7)	0.91	7 (6–7)	0.87
Clinic environment between patients	5 (4–7)	6 (5–7)	0.07	6 (4.5–7)	0.13
Exposure to another CF patient coughing	6 (6–7)	7 (5–7)	0.66	7 (5–7)	0.87
Exposure to another CF patient talking	4 (2–4)	5 (2–6)	0.1	4 (2–6)	0.16
Spirometry performed in a PFT laboratory	6 (4–7)	6 (4–7)	0.98	4 (4–6)	0.63
Importance of various measures in reducing risk of infection transmission
Segregation of patients in to separate rooms	6 (5–7)	7 (5–7)	0.19	7 (6–7)	0.11
All patients washing hands/sterilizing with alcohol upon entry and exit from rooms	7 (7–7)	7 (6–7)	0.11	7 (6–7)	0.10
Patients wearing a mask in hospital common areas	4 (3–6)	5 (3–7)	0.44	5 (3–6)	0.98
Cleaning of examination rooms between patients	7 (6–7)	7 (5–7)	0.59	7 (5–7)	0.41
Avoiding direct physical contact with other patients	6 (3–7)	6 (5–7)	0.49	6 (5–7)	0.49
Avoiding any contact with other CF individuals	3 (2–4)	5 (2–7)	0.05	5 (2–7)	0.04

^aNo risk, 2. Very low risk, 3 low risk, 4 neutral, 5. Mild risk, 6. Moderate risk, 7. Extreme risk
direct = Any physical contact with an individual with CF
any = Any direct communication regardless of direct physical contact within the prescribed "2m" protective bubble

ISSN: 1471-2466