title: [Occupational exposure risk to body fluids in the Felix Bulnes Hospital during eleven years].
abstract: Accidents with risk of occupational exposure to body fluids constitute more of a third of labor accidents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the annual incidence of accidents with exposure to body fluids in the Felix Bulnes Hospital from 1998 to 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of reports from the Infection Control Committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 11 years, there were 415 accidents with exposure to body fluids, with the cumulative incidence of 3,4% (range 1.3% to 6%). Sharp instrument accidents accounted for 92,5% of cases. The main health care providers affected were the paramedical technicians and the students. The highest frequency of accidents occurred in the obstetrical operating rooms (20%) and in the central operating rooms (17%). There were no cases of seroconversion and no exposure to HCV or HBV. The estimated costs were USD $35638,6 or USD $271 per 1000 staff per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence increased during the first years of the study and then remained stable since 2001, despite efforts in training personnel. Many factors contribute to the development of these accidents, such as lack of experience, type of clinical benefit and even daytime working hours.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Félix Bulnes Cerda, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villarroel
authors.forename: M Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manríquez
authors.forename: M Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bertoglia
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galarce
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data