title: Blood and body fluid exposures in the French military.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs) is a hazard of many occupations, particularly hospital-based health care providers. However, non-hospital-based health care workers (HCWs) and other personnel not providing health care are also at risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the results of surveillance of accidental exposure to BBFs among non-hospital-based French military personnel between 2007 and 2009, comparing different occupational categories.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included all French military personnel subjected to occupational BBF exposure in a non-hospital setting. BBF exposure was defined as any percutaneous (needlestick injury, scalpel cut, etc.) or mucocutaneous (splash to mucosa, eyes or non-intact skin) exposure to blood, a biological fluid contaminated with blood or a fluid known to transmit blood-borne pathogens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2009, 704 occupational BBF exposures were reported in non-hospital-based French military personnel. Annualized BBF exposure incidence rates were statistically different among health care workers in non-hospital settings, firefighters, 'gendarmes' and other military personnel, with respectively 38.7, 5.4, 0.8 and 0.1 exposures per 1000 persons per year. Among the 97 cases of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) initiated, the source patient's HIV status was unknown in 78 cases (84%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the appropriateness of HIV PEP initiation in the French military should be reviewed. Adapting French guidelines for managing BBF exposure, for non-hospital-based environments should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique des Armées, Antenne de Marseille, Allée du Médecin Colonel Jamot, Parc du Pharo, BP 60109, 13262 Marseille Cedex 07, France. aissdia@orange.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verret
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pommier de Santi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Decam
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Migliani
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deparis
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters; D005602:France; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D018570:Risk Assessment