Protection of health care workers against bloodborne infections in emergency departments.
Health care workers in emergency departments are at particular high risk for acquiring occupational bloodborne infections. Needle stick injuries are the main hazard. Systematic HIV testing of patients admitted to emergency department is not a cost beneficial way to protect health care workers from acquiring such infections. Prevention strategies should be based on the adherence to universal precautions, hepatitis B vaccination, the utilization of safer devices and the training/education of health care workers.
Colebunders
R
R
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Verstraeten
T
T
D001530:Belgium; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male