title: [Risk injuries at operating and delivery rooms. EPINETAC Project 1996-2000].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical areas have long been considered risky with regard to occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens. The objective of study was to describe and evaluate the risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens at operating and delivery rooms, from reports of injuries in health care workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transversal study of percutaneous injuries occurring in operating and delivery rooms which were registered in the Spanish surveillance system EPINETAC (Exposure Prevention Information Network Accidents) between 1996 and 2000. We recorded data from the exposed health care worker, from the accident itself and from the exposure source. The risk of exposition was calculated by logistic regression. The dependent variable was the exposition in operating/delivery rooms. We calculated the rate of exposure, total and by occupational categories, per 10,000 surgical procedures in 3 surgical specialties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 3,625 percutaneous injuries reported. The exposure risk was higher in midwives [OR 36.6 (CI 95% 19.61-68.52)] than in staff [OR 12.6 (CI 95% 10.21-15.71)] or training doctors [OR 12.8 (CI 95% 10.34-15.98)]. The highest risk turned up during use of material [OR 1.37 (CI 95% 1.05-1.79)] and during preparation of material for reuse [OR 1.81 (CI 95% 1.27-2.59)]. The exposure rate, in gynecologic procedures, was 34.36 injuries per 10,000, in digestive surgery it was 24.61 per 10,000, and in trauma surgery it was 18.92 per 10,000 surgical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens in staff and training doctors was higher in operating and delivery rooms than in others areas. Obstetric and gynecologic procedures exhibited the highest risk of exposure.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain. jlarribas@salud.aragob.es
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arribas Llorente
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hernández Navarrete
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campins Martí
authors.forename: Juan Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Martín Sánchez
authors.forename: Víctor Manuel
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Solano Bernad
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003696:Delivery Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012306:Risk; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology