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ABSTRACT
Background/Aim: Sphygmomanometers are widely used in many health care facilities to measure the blood pressure of patients. The direct contact of the cuff of this device with patients’ skin during use; makes it a potential source of transmission of infection among these patients. This study was done to determine the level of awareness of health care providers on the role of sphygmomanometer cuffs in the spread of nosocomial infections in healthcare facilities, to isolate the possible microorganisms in sphygmomanometer cuffs used in two tertiary hospitals as well as community pharmacies and to determine the effectiveness of 70% isopropyl alcohol in reducing the microbial loads on these cuffs. Method: This was a cross-sectional study, that evaluated the microbial contaminants on sphygmomanometer cuffs in two tertiary hospitals and some community pharmacies in Benin City. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was designed and administered to healthcare practitioners (doctors, nurses, and pharmacists). The questionnaire consisted of three segments, sociodemographics, knowledge, and disinfection practice. Collected data were entered into SPSS version 22 for descriptive and inferential analysis. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Ethical approval was obtained from Central Hospital Benin City and University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
