Occupational blood and body fluid exposure in an Australian teaching hospital.
To examine work-related blood and body fluid exposure (BBFE) among health-care workers (HCWs), to explore potential risk factors and to provide policy suggestions, a 6-year retrospective study of all reported BBFE among HCWs (1998-2003) was conducted in a 430-bed teaching hospital in Australia. Results showed that BBFE reporting was consistent throughout the study period, with medical staff experiencing the highest rate of sharps injury (10.4%). Hollow-bore needles were implicated in 51.7% of all percutaneous injuries. Most incidents occurred during sharps use (40.4%) or after use but before disposal (27.1%). Nursing staff experienced 68.5% of reported mucocutaneous exposure. Many such exposures occurred in the absence of any protective attire (61.1%). This study indicated that emphasis on work practice, attire, disposal systems and education strategies, as well as the use of safety sharps should be employed to reduce work-related injuries among HCWs in Australia.
Bi
P
P
Department of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, and Occupational Health and Safety Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia. peng.bi@adelaide.edu.au
Tully
P J
PJ
Pearce
S
S
Hiller
J E
JE
D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012189:Retrospective Studies