title: Accidental blood exposures among medical residents in Paris, France.
abstract: Accidental blood exposure (ABE) exposes healthcare workers, including medical residents, to the risk of occupational infection. We aimed to determine the characteristics of ABEs in residents with an anonymous self-reporting electronic questionnaire. A total of 350 residents (33% from surgical disciplines) entered this survey. One hundred and eighty-five residents (52%) reported at least one ABE during their residency (median, 2; range, 1-25), 53% of which occurred in operating theatres. Sixty-nine per cent of residents followed the current procedures for local disinfection. ABEs were notified to the hospital administration by 62% of residents, but only 51% of residents were referred to the occupational medicine department. The most frequently reported concerns following ABEs were human immunodeficiency virus (52%) and hepatitis C virus infection (39%). In 74% of cases, the serological status of the index patient was investigated. Only 54% of residents were aware of their hepatitis B surface antibody titres. Medical residents behaved inappropriately in 33% of cases in this survey. Further educational programmes should include residents, and not only senior healthcare workers, in order to improve individual behaviours.
authors.affiliation: SIHP, Syndicat des Internes des Hôpitaux de Paris, France. olivier.mir@cch.aphp.fr
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veyrie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chousterman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yordanov
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berveiller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loulergue
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D010297:Paris; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016635:Universal Precautions; D055815:Young Adult