title: [Risk estimation of blood-borne infections by emergency room personnel].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency department personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections among trauma patients is higher compared to the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the compliance rates of trauma team members in applying standard precautions, knowledge about the transmission risk of blood-borne infections and perceived risk of acquiring HIV, HBV and HCV.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 100 trauma team members including physicians, nurses and medical students from different medical departments (e.g. surgery, radiology, anesthesia and internal medicine).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the questionnaire showed that trauma team members had insufficient knowledge of the risk of blood-borne pathogens, overestimated the risk of HCV infection and underused standard precautions during treatment of emergency trauma patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further educational measures for emergency department personnel are required to increase the knowledge of occupational infections and compliance with standard precautions. Every healthcare worker needs to be sufficiently vaccinated against HBV. In the case of injury awareness of all measures of post-exposure prophylaxis is of utmost importance for affected personnel.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scheller
authors.affiliation: Betriebsärztlicher Dienst, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland. Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicker
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Rabenau
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marzi
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wutzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Emergency room; Needlestick injury; Occupational infections; Postexposure prophylaxis; Standard precautions