Abstract / Summary
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and bloodborne pathogen exposures present severe occupational hazards to frontline medical, health, and laboratory staff. While infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines exist, behavioral and institutional barriers frequently compromise workplace safety. This study aimed to identify primary transmission pathways, assess infection control knowledge and post-exposure practices, and evaluate institutional training coverage among healthcare personnel at Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 medical, health and laboratory staff selected by random sampling. Data were collected with a structured self-administered questionnaire covering demographic and professional characteristics, recognised transmission routes, knowledge of bloodborne pathogen risks, post-exposure practices, hand hygiene and prior infection control training, and were analysed with descriptive statistics. Nurses (39.1%) and laboratory technicians (30.9%) formed the largest groups, and 32.7% of participants had never received formal infection control training. Direct contact with patients or contaminated materials was identified as the main transmission route by 55.5%. HIV was perceived as the highest-risk bloodborne pathogen by 66.1%, whereas only 15.6% each chose HBV and HCV. Only 46.4% correctly reported washing the wound as the first step after a needle-stick injury, while 40.0% reported squeezing the wound; 56.0% knew the recommended handwashing duration. Staff showed basic awareness of transmission pathways but substantial gaps in training coverage, bloodborne risk perception and post-exposure practice. Mandatory continuous infection prevention and control training, standardised post-exposure protocols and curricula emphasising viral hepatitis are recommended.