A Quantitative Assessment of Infection Control Practices and Healthcare-Associated Infections in a Tertiary Government Hospital

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) remain a significant concern in modern healthcare systems due to their impact on patient safety, healthcare costs, and institutional credibility. This quantitative study assessed the prevalence, contributing factors, and compliance with infection control protocols in selected tertiary hospital in Iloilo City. Utilizing a structured Likert-scale questionnaire distributed among 100 healthcare professionals, the study examined four key dimensions: awareness of current HAI prevalence, infection control practices, contributing factors to HAI occurrence despite protocols, and the relationship between compliance and infection rates. Results indicated a generally high awareness of HAI prevalence, with "Agree" and "Strongly Agree" responses dominating across most statements. Infection control practices such as hand hygiene, PPE usage, and waste disposal protocols were reportedly well-implemented, although inconsistencies and resource limitations persisted. Moreover, findings demonstrated a strong perceived relationship between high compliance with infection control practices and reduced HAI incidence. The study concludes with recommendations to reinforce hospital-wide infection control training, ensure adequate staffing and resource availability, and enhance monitoring mechanisms. These steps are critical in reducing HAIs and safeguarding both patients and healthcare workers.