Compliance with Environmental Health Standards in Educational Hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2009

Nosocomial infections are one of the most important problems in hospitals. Due to the important role of environmental factors on these infections، compliance with environmental health standards is of particular importance in reduction of hospital-acquired infection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate compliance with environmental health standards in educational hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study that includes four educational hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected by a questionnaire filled in through interview and observation of different wards. Based on the scores obtained by various hospitals and departments، the status of environmental health was classified into three categories: favorable، relatively favorable (moderate)، and unfavorable conditions. Mean and standard deviation of scores of environmental health status in studied hospitals were 80. 1±10. 9. Environmental health status was favorable in 25% of the hospitals and 39. 7% of the wards. The status of these standards was favorable in 44. 45% of the intensive care units، 45. 7 % of inpatient departments، 31. 25% of the logistic services and 25% of the diagnostic units. This study showed that compliance with environmental health standards was not favorable in most educational hospitals. This poor environmental health condition can cause and spread nosocomial infections. Therefore، more attempts should be made to improve environmental health in these hospitals.