[Accidents with biological material in health care workers in 2 primary health care areas (1990-1999)].
OBJECTIVE
To find out the exposures with biological material in health care workers in primary health care, registered in the biological accidents database from Preventive Medicine Service in Miguel Servet Universitary Hospital of Zaragoza.


METHODS
Descriptive study of a retrospective cohort. SITE: Primary health care, Areas II and V of Zaragoza.Participants. Workers in this areas, distributed by: physician, nursing staff, auxiliary, orderly, housekeeping staff, others.


RESULTS
Data of: workers, accident, serologic source, worker protection and vaccinal status of hepatitis B. The incidence of accidents was 26 (period 1997-1999). Most proportion of accidents were declared by nursing (78%). The highest occupational incidence was in auxiliary (63 ). In 90,1% of the cases, the accident was needlestick injury. The source was known in 67,7% of cases. The accidents occurred in hands in 96,8% of cases, and only one third of workers carried gloves.


CONCLUSIONS
Results obtained are similar with previous studies about this event. We must insist on the need to declare these accidents, providing more information and accessibility for the declaration to worker. Moreover, we must insist on the correct application in the health care field of the standard precautions, because almost 50% of accidents are evitable, and to increase hepatitis B vaccination covertures.
Hernández Navarrete
M J
MJ
Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain.
Montes Villameriel
F J
FJ
Solano Bernad
V M
VM
Sánchez Matienzo
D
D
del Val García
J L
JL
Gil Montalbán
E
E
Arribas Llorente
J L
JL
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care
D001688:Biological Products