Assessment of Infection Control Practices in the Orthopaedic Ward at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti

Healthcare-associated infections in orthopaedic wards pose a significant threat to patient safety, particularly among patients with implants, open wounds, and prolonged hospitalisation. This observational descriptive study evaluates infection control practices in the orthopaedic ward at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, South West Nigeria. Direct structured observation and a validated infection control knowledge and practice assessment tool will be applied to nursing staff, doctors, and clinical support personnel over a six-week period. Key practices assessed will include hand hygiene compliance, wound dressing technique, sharps disposal, use of personal protective equipment, environmental cleaning protocols, and adherence to isolation precautions. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices will be scored and compared across staff categories. Observational compliance rates will be cross-referenced with clinical infection reports from the ward register. The study hypothesises that hand hygiene compliance is below the WHO recommended threshold of 80 percent. Recommendations will be communicated to the hospital's infection control committee and nursing management. Findings will contribute to the evidence base for infection prevention quality improvement in orthopaedic wards in South West Nigeria, where rising rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections present a growing clinical challenge. Keywords: infection control, orthopaedic ward, hand hygiene, EKSUTH, healthcare-associated infections.