The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of anesthesia personnel hazard.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, causes, management, outcomes and corrective strategies for personnel hazard in Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study).


METHODS
Personnel hazard incidents were extracted from the Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) database conducted between February 1, 2003 and January 31, 2004 and analysed using descriptive statistics.


RESULTS
Twenty-four incidents of personnel hazard were recorded. Majority of incidents occurred in nurse anesthetist (54.2%). Five incidents exposed to patient blood but no infection reported afterwards. Nineteen incidents (79.2%) were injury without contact to patients blood or body fluid. Most of them were injured by broken ampoules. One case needed to leave from work for a while due to hand dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Personnel hazard incidence were quite low frequency because of under-report. One case of morbidity was reported. Universal precaution and post exposure prophylaxis tended to minimize the risk of infection.
Pulnitiporn
Aksorn
A
Department of Anesthesiology, Khon Kaen Regional Hospital, Thailand. aksornp@hotmail.com
Chau-in
Waraporn
W
Klanarong
Sireeluck
S
Thienthong
Somboon
S
Inphum
Panjai
P
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000776:Anesthesiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand