Assessment of Hand Hygiene Practices and Infection Control Compliance Among Pharmacy Staff in Teaching Hospitals in Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria

Healthcare-associated infections remain a significant source of preventable morbidity in Nigerian hospitals, and pharmacy staff are not exempt from infection transmission risk given their daily contact with patients and contaminated prescription documents. This study assessed hand hygiene practices and general infection control compliance among pharmacy staff in teaching hospitals in Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria. A structured observational study was conducted over six weeks in two teaching hospitals. Hand hygiene compliance was assessed across five clinical moments using WHO criteria, and general infection control behaviors were evaluated through checklist observation. A total of 48 pharmacy staff members comprising pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and support staff were observed. Overall hand hygiene compliance was 41 percent, well below the WHO-recommended standard. Compliance was highest before drug dispensing at 56 percent and lowest after handling patient-returned medicines at 22 percent. Alcohol-based hand rub availability was adequate in only one of the two facilities. Personal protective equipment use was inconsistent, and waste segregation practices were suboptimal in both hospitals. Lack of infection control training specific to pharmacy settings was a key gap. The study recommends regular infection control audits in pharmacy departments, provision of hand hygiene facilities at all dispensing points, and inclusion of pharmacy staff in hospital infection control training programs. Keywords: hand hygiene, infection control, pharmacy staff, teaching hospital, Owerri