Occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids among health care workers at a university hospital in Iran.
Occupational exposure to sharp items or body fluid splash is a hazard for health care personnel via transmission of blood-borne viruses through such exposures. To determine the occurrence of needlestick injuries and other high-risk exposures among health care workers at a hospital in Iran, data collected for 2 years were reviewed. During this period, 171 occupational exposures were self-reported. Approximately 20% of all exposed personnel were men and 80% were women. One hundred twenty-six (74%) of the exposed personnel had needlestick injuries, 13 (8%) had sharp instrument injuries, and 32 (19%) had mucosal contact with potentially infectious fluids. Thirty-two percent of injuries occurred during or after sharp instrument disposal and 67% during operative procedures. Appropriate blood tests were performed for 55 (32%) and postexposure prophylaxis was administered to 31 (18%) of the exposed personnel.
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. naderihr@mums.ac.ir
Hamid Reza
HR
Naderi
Fereshte
F
Sheybani
Amin
A
Bojdi
Irandokht
I
Mostafavi
Nasrin
N
Khosravi
D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D001826:Body Fluids; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult