Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology

Background and Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections acquired in hospital settings that were absent at admission, contributing to morbidity, mortality, and financial burden worldwide. Medical staff play a critical role in preventing HAIs, and adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) are essential for effective infection control. This study evaluated KAP regarding HAIs among medical students.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 200 medical students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University over three months. A validated 34-item questionnaire assessed knowledge (12 items), attitude (8 items), and practice (14 items) on a five-point Likert scale.
Results: One hundred fifty students completed the survey (response rate: 75%). Mean scores were 42.4±4.5 (knowledge), 30.9±3.3 (attitude), and 52.1±5.5 (practice). Notable gaps were observed in hand-hygiene (HH) and biomedical waste disposal. No significant association was found between KAP scores and gender, internship duration, or prior HAIs training.
Conclusion: Iranian medical students demonstrated moderate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), with deficiencies in hand hygiene (HH) and waste management. The lack of prior training highlights the need for structured educational interventions, including simulation-based HH training and targeted waste-management workshops before clinical rotations to improve infection control and patient safety.