title: Blood-borne virus transmission in healthcare settings in Ireland: review of patient notification exercises 1997-2011.
abstract: A review of patient notification exercises (PNEs) carried out in Ireland between 1997 and 2011 to investigate potential exposure to blood-borne viruses (BBVs) in healthcare settings was undertaken to inform future policy and practice. A questionnaire was sent to key informants in the health services to identify all relevant PNEs. Structured interviews were conducted with key investigators, and available documentation was examined. Ten BBV-related PNEs were identified. Despite testing over 2000 patients, only one case of transmission was found. However, in-depth local investigations before undertaking the PNEs identified six cases of healthcare-associated transmission.
authors.affiliation: Health Service Executive, Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland. sinead.donohue1@hse.ie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelleher
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D007494:Ireland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires