title: Epidemiology of exposure to blood borne pathogens on a surgical service.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of this study was to analyze the type and mechanism of blood exposure injuries on the surgical service in order to develop appropriate preventative strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of all exposure injuries affecting members of the operative care line at a single teaching institution between December 2002 and December 2005 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 98 exposure injuries on the surgical service, only 17 (17%) were inflicted by hollow-bore needles. Seventy-four (76%) of these reported injuries occurred in the operating room (OR) and 24 (24%) occurred in other clinical areas. Sharps injuries accounted for 69 (93%) of OR injuries and were inflicted by suture needles (n = 37, 50%), hollow-bore needles (n = 7, 9%), and sharp instruments (n = 25, 34%). Mucocutaneous contamination accounted for 5 (7%) of the OR exposures. Professionals most frequently injured were residents (n = 43, 44%), followed by nurses (n = 28, 29%), students (n = 17, 17%) and other healthcare workers (n = 10, 10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood exposure prevention strategies should be directed at safety within the surgical field and focused beyond hollow-bore needle stick injuries to include education, mentoring, and competency training.
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Fbakaeen@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bakaeen
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albo
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bellows
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kistner
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Izard
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Triebel
authors.forename: Myrna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D004867:Equipment Design; D013502:General Surgery; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013537:Sutures; D013781:Texas