[Occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens in health care workers].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens in different occupations of health care workers. To analyze the characteristics and outcome of the occupational exposure.


METHODS
We have evaluate occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens reported by health care workers during 1996-1999. The following data were collected: characteristics of the workers, type of occupational exposure, immunity status of the exposed worker, infectivity of the source patient and follow up serologic testing of the worker.


RESULTS
A total of 407 occupational exposures were reported. The highest rate of occupational exposure was found among nurses (61.6%). Needlestick accident was the most often occupational exposure reported (84.5%). Mucosal exposures with accidental splashes were reported in 15.2% of cases. In 14.5% of these accidents workers were at risk for occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens. Among the different occupations of health care workers, the rate of exposures with a source infected patient was higher in medical staffs (28.3%) than nurses (13.9%) The rate of exposures with a source infected patient was higher in accidental splashes than in percutaneous exposures (33.8% vs 13.3%), besides in none of the accidental splashes, employees had used appropriate barrier precautions. There were no cases of transmission of occupational blood-borne infections.


CONCLUSIONS
Although nurses are the health care workers with highest rates of occupational exposures, medical staffs are the most often occupationally exposed to a source infected patient. Universal barrier precautions are no appropriately used in most of the occupational accidents, specially in those involving mucosal exposures.
Blázquez
R M
RM
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital J.M. Morales Meseguer, Murcia. rblazquezg@medynet.com
Moreno
S
S
Menasalvas
A
A
Guerrero
C
C
Novoa
A
A
Segovia
M
M
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*