Occupational Exposure to Blood and other Body Fluids among Health Care Workers at a University Hospital in Iran

Occupational exposure to sharp items or body fluid splash is a hazard for health care personnel via transmission of blood-borne viruses through such exposures. To determine the occurrence of needlestick injuries and other highrisk exposures among health care workers at a hospital in Iran, data colle...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Workplace health & safety 2012-10, Vol.60 (10), p.419-422
Main Authors: Naderi, HamidReza, Sheybani, Fereshte, Bojdi, Amin, Mostafavi, Irandokht, Khosravi, Nasrin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Blood-Borne Pathogens
Body Fluids
Female
Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Infection Control - statistics & numerical data
Iran - epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Needlestick Injuries - epidemiology
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data
Occupational Health Nursing
Risk Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:Occupational exposure to sharp items or body fluid splash is a hazard for health care personnel via transmission of blood-borne viruses through such exposures. To determine the occurrence of needlestick injuries and other highrisk exposures among health care workers at a hospital in Iran, data collected for 2 years were reviewed. During this period, 171 occupational exposures were self-reported. Approximately 20% of all exposed personnel were men and 80% were women. One hundred twenty-six (74%) of the exposed personnel had needlestick injuries, 13 (8%) had sharp instrument injuries, and 32 (19%) had mucosal contact with potentially infectious fluids. Thirty-two percent of injuries occurred during or after sharp instrument disposal and 67% during operative procedures. Appropriate blood tests were performed for 55 (32%) and postexposure prophylaxis was administered to 31 (18%) of the exposed personnel.
ISSN:2165-0799
2165-0969
DOI:10.1177/216507991206001003