title: Occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens among healthcare workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) frequently face the risk of occupational infection from bloodborne pathogens following exposure to blood and body fluids. This study describes the results of a surveillance system of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens among HCWs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during an eight-year period. A total of 15 035 exposures reported from 537 health units were reviewed. Six circumstances comprised nearly 70% of the reported exposures: recapping needles (14%), performing surgical procedures or handling surgical equipment (14%), handling trash (13%), during disposal into sharps containers (13%), performing percutaneous venepuncture (10%) and during blood drawing (5%). Easily preventable exposures, such as incidents related to recapping needles, handling trash, and sharps left in an inappropriate place, represented 30% of the exposures reported. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was initiated for 46% of exposed HCWs. Although Brazilian guidelines indicate that PEP is usually not recommended for exposures with insignificant or very low risk of HIV infection, PEP was prescribed to a large proportion of exposed HCWs under these circumstances. The prevention of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens among HCWs and their safety must be considered as a public health issue. Although infection-preventative measures such as antiretroviral drugs and rapid tests are available, this study shows that there are still a high number of easily preventable exposures. The implementation of more effective prevention strategies is urgently required in this country.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Preventive Medicine, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. rapparini@riscobiologico.org
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rapparini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saraceni
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lauria
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vellozo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Durovni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*