Knowledge of Medical Imaging Professionals on Healthcare-Associated Infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Health-care associated infections (HCAIs) are a significant concern for both Health care professionals and patients. With recent advances in imaging modalities, there is an increase in patients visiting the radiology department for diagnosis and therapeutic examination. The equipment used for the investigator is contaminated, which may result in HCAIs to the patients and health care professionals. Medical Imaging Professionals (MIPs) should have adequate knowledge to overcome the spread of infection in the radiology department. This systematic review aimed to examine the literature on the knowledge and precaution standard of MIPs on HCIAs. The review was performed with a relative keyword using PRISMA guidelines. The articles were retrieved from 2000 to 2020 using Scopus, PubMed, and ProQuest databases. The NICE public health guidance manual was used to assess the quality of the full-length article. The search yielded 262 articles, of which Scopus published 13 articles, PubMed published 179 articles, and ProQuest published 55 articles. In the present review, out of 262 articles, only five articles fulfilled the criteria which reported the MIP's knowledge of Jordan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, France, and Malawi population. The present review reported that MIPs have moderate knowledge and precaution standards on HCIAs in the radiology department.  However, due to the limited studies published in the literature, the current review limits the application of the outcome in the vast MIPs population. This review recommended further studies to be conducted among the MIPs worldwide to know the actual knowledge and precaution standards on HCIAs