Barriers and facilitators of effective prevention and management of healthcare-associated infections regarding faecal matter: Perceptions of healthcare professionals and prevention perspectives.

Background: To determine the perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding faecal risk and healthcare associated infection, as well as the means and limitations perceived, to improve adherence to hygiene protocols through an understanding of the barriers and facilitators of these professionals.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted through 15 individual interviews and 3 focus groups (12 participants) in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Guadeloupe. An interview guide developed through interdisciplinary collaboration was used, which addressed the perceptions of faecal germs and viruses, risk perception, means of prevention, barriers and facilitators to compliance with good hygiene practices, as well as knowledge needs. A verbatim transcription was performed, and the corpus was prepared for thematic analysis (using Vivo software).

Results: The professionals lack understanding regarding the issue of faecal risk. Although most of the professionals interviewed feel concerned, the perception of risk varies notably according to the type of service, the epidemic threshold, and the patient's health status. The barriers to compliance with hygiene practices are both institutional and individual.

Conclusion: Caregivers suggest ways to increase knowledge of the problem. These results precede and complement the development of the "faecal risk" toolbox in 2020 by the national cross-support mission for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (Repairs MATIS).