Occupational Exposures to Blood and Body Fluids among Healthcare Personnel

• Main Authors: Filiz Bayar, R Erkal Ozkan, Dilek Tas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: ADICHUNCHANAGIRI INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2016-06-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Sciences and Health
• Subjects: occupational exposures; safeguard measures; healthcare personnel.
• Online Access: http://www.jmsh.ac.in/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=47:occupational-exposures-to-blood-and-body-fluids-among-healthcare-personnel&Itemid=75

Objectives and Aims: The sharp object injury and occupational exposures to blood and body fluids have kept to be a serious problem for the healthcare personnel (HCP), especially in the developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occupational exposures to blood and body fluids among HCP in Usak State Hospital and determine the measures for reduction of occupational exposures. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 261 cases of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids among HCP during the period July 2011-October 2015 in Usak State Hospital by examining the records of Infection Control Committee (ICC). Results: Total 261 HCP applied to ICC for the occupational exposures to blood and body fluids, and 196 (75.1%) persons of them were women, while 65 (24.9%) persons of them were men. The trainees were the occupational group which was mostly exposed to blood and body fluids with 48.3% among occupational groups, while the most cases of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids were reported by internal medical units with 31.0%. Most of the injuries (94.6%) were percutaneous, and the needlestick injury was the type of incident most frequently reported by HCP (91.6%). Nearly half of the HCP (54.4%) exposed to blood and body fluids reported that they wore gloves during the injuries, and the sources were known in 68.2% of all cases. Hepatitis B (HB) surface antigen was found to be positive in 10.7% of these patients; hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found to be positive in 3.9% of the patients; and anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was found to be positive in 0.6% of the patients. On the other hand, anti-HBs was found to be positive in 94.3 of the HCP, but none of the anti-HCV and anti-HIV positiveness were found after the exposure. 15 (5.7%) HCP with negative anti-HBs were included in vaccine program, and antiretroviral prophylaxis was applied to one HCP, which contacted with a person having positive anti-HIV. No seroconversion was detected in the HCP after a 6 month-regular screenings. Conclusions: Occupational exposures to blood and body fluids have still been a serious problem for HCP. All the HCP and trainees should be trained about the occupational exposure, protection, and post-exposure procedures regularly to decrease the frequency of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids.