[Occupational blood exposure among Danish physicians--incidence and risk factors].
In a nation-wide questionnaire survey, the incidence and risk factors of percutaneous (PCE) and mucocutaneous (MCE) blood exposure among doctors in Denmark were studied. Of 9375 doctors, 6256 (67%) responded and 6005 were included for analysis. The highest incidence per person-risk-year (pry) was found in General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Obstetrics-Gynaecology and Orthopaedic Surgery (6.2-8.5 PCE/pry and 7.3-8.8 MCE/pry) followed by Anaesthesiology and Oto-rhinolaryngology (2.6-3.1 PCE/pry and 6.0-6.9 MCE/pry) and Pathology, Internal medicine, Radiology and Paediatrics (0.8-1.3 PCE/pry and 1.3-2.9 MCE/pry). Employment as senior as compared to junior doctor was associated with a higher risk of PCE and MCE among surgeons and a higher risk of PCE in anaesthetists, but a lower risk of PCE and MCE in Internal Medicine, Radiology and Paediatrics. Only 35% adhered to the basic principles of universal precautions and non-compliance was associated with a considerably increased risk of exposures, especially in non-surgical specialties. In conclusion, we found an unacceptably high incidence of occupational blood exposures among Danish doctors and preventive measures to reduce the incidence are strongly needed.
Nelsing
S
S
Infektionsmedicinsk afdeling, H:S Hvidovre Hospital, Dansk Institut for Klinisk Epidemiologi.
Nielsen
T L
TL
Brønnum-Hansen
H
H
Nielsen
J O
JO
D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D018563:Disease Notification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008511:Medicine; D010820:Physicians; D012307:Risk Factors; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires