title: [Occupational exposure to blood in multiple trauma care].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trauma care personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Little is known regarding compliance with standard precautions or occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among multiple trauma care personnel in Germany.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Compliance rates of multiple trauma care personnel in applying standard precautions, knowledge about transmission risks of blood-borne pathogens, perceived risks of acquiring hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the personal attitude towards testing of the index patient for blood-borne pathogens after a needlestick injury were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the context of an advanced multiple trauma training an anonymous questionnaire was administered to the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost half of the interviewees had sustained a needlestick injury within the last 12 months. Approximately three quarters of the participants were concerned about the risk of HIV and hepatitis. Trauma care personnel had insufficient knowledge of the risk of blood-borne pathogens, overestimated the risk of hepatitis C infection and underused standard precautionary measures. Although there was excellent compliance for using gloves, there was poor compliance in using double gloves (26.4 %), eye protectors (19.7 %) and face masks (15.8 %). The overwhelming majority of multiple trauma care personnel believed it is appropriate to test an index patient for blood-borne pathogens following a needlestick injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The process of treatment in prehospital settings is less predictable than in other settings in which invasive procedures are performed. Periodic training and awareness programs for trauma care personnel are required to increase the knowledge of occupational infections and the compliance with standard precautions. The legal and ethical aspects of testing an index patient for blood-borne pathogens after a needlestick injury of a healthcare worker have to be clarified in Germany.
authors.affiliation: Betriebsärztlicher Dienst, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt a. M., Deutschland, Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wutzler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schachtrupp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zacharowski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scheller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D005858:Germany; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000097:blood*; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital