title: Evaluation of risk and protective factors for work-related bite injuries to veterinary technicians certified in Minnesota.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify risk and protective factors for work-related bite injuries among veterinary technicians certified in Minnesota.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nested case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  868 certified veterinary technicians (CVTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to CVTs who previously participated in a survey regarding work-related injuries and did (cases; 301 surveys sent) or did not (controls; 567) report qualifying work-related animal bite injuries in the preceding 12 months. Descriptive statistics were summarized. Demographic and work-related variables for the month preceding the bite injury (for cases) or a randomly selected month (controls) were assessed with univariate analysis (489 CVTs) and multivariate analysis of a subset of 337 CVTs who worked in small or mixed mostly small animal facilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were received from 176 case and 313 control CVTs. For the subset of 337 CVTs, risk of bite injury was higher for those < 25 years of age (OR, 3.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84 to 7.94) than for those ≥ 35 years of age, for those who had worked < 5 years (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.63 to 6.45) versus ≥ 10 years in any veterinary facility, and for those who handled ≥ 5 species/d (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.06 to 3.74) versus < 3 species/d. Risk was lower for CVTs who handled < 10 versus ≥ 20 animals/d (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.71).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several work-related factors were associated with the risk of work-related bite injury to CVTs. These findings may serve as a basis for development of intervention efforts and future research regarding work-related injuries among veterinary staff.
authors: Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center and Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455., Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert St N, Saint Paul, MN 55164.
authors: Leslie D
authors: LD
authors: Nordgren
authors: Susan G
authors: SG
authors: Gerberich
authors: Bruce H
authors: BH
authors: Alexander
authors: Timothy R
authors: TR
authors: Church
authors: Jeff B
authors: JB
authors: Bender
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017750:Animal Technicians; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000145:classification