title: Reducing the underreporting of percutaneous exposure incidents: A single-center experience.
abstract: Although risk reduction strategies have been implemented throughout the world, underreporting of percutaneous exposure incidents (PEIs) is common among exposed health care workers. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate of reported PEIs before and after implementation of an intensified reporting management policy. The introduction of an intensified reporting system led to significantly increased reporting after a PEI has occurred. However, continuous education needs to be provided to improve awareness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany. Electronic address: Carlos.Fritzsche@med.uni-rostock.de.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fritzsche
authors.affiliation: Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.affiliation: Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loebermann
authors.affiliation: Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klammt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podbielski
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mittlmeier
authors.affiliation: Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Emil C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Reisinger
mesh_terms: D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management
keywords: Underreporting; bloodborne infections; needlestick injuries; percutaneous exposure incident