title: [Survey on accidental exposure to biological materials in the Hospital-University Complex of Sassari during the period 1995-2000].
abstract: To study professional exposure to biological materials an investigation was carried out in the Hospital-University Complex of Sassari during the period January 1st 1995-December 31 2000. 1003 occupational accidents were notified (incidence rate=6%). Infirmaries were the most at risk category (45%) and about the half part of the accidents occurred in surgical area (44.7%). The most frequent accident was needle puncture (53%); exposure involved principally the hands (76.3%). The basal serology of injured personnel showed low positivity for any HBV markers (72.7%), HCV (0.4%) and no positivity for HIV; while high levels were found among source patients. From the comparison between serological data (injured vs source), when ascertainable, emerged a biological hazard of 7.7% for HBV, 30.2% for HCV and 3.2% for HIV; however no seroconversions were observed at follow up. The study also pointed out the need of improve prevention programmes.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italia. mdmasia@uniss.it
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Masia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castiglia
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Busonera
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valca
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maida
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital