title: Accidental blood exposures among emergency medicine residents and young physicians in France: a national survey.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of blood or fluid exposure (BFE) and occupational infection risk among emergency medicine (EM) residents and young physicians (<35 years old) in France. We led a cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey. 1779 participants were contacted with a response rate of 36 % (n = 633). Among the respondents, 459 (72 %) reported at least one BFE. Among participants with at least one BFE, 35 % (n = 163) never reported the exposure to the relevant medical authorities or support. Among participants who reported exposure, 63 % (n = 232) did it immediately. Among participants who never or not systematically reported their BFE, most of them (62 %, n = 181/289) did not do so because the procedure was too long, and 28 % (n = 82/289) estimated the risk as low even if only one-third (n = 166/458) checked their HIV status even though the BFE was at a transmission risk. Circumstances in which the participants had the most BFE were: suturing 57 % (n = 262/457) and when making precipitated gestures 24 % (n = 111/457). The latest exposures were caused by a solid needle in 42 % (n = 191/455) or hollow-bore needle in 27 % (n = 123/455). Post-exposure reporting rates were low. Reporting procedure itself and self-management were the main reasons for BFE underreporting. Simplifying procedures might increase BFE reporting, and allow appropriate post-exposure counseling and/or prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Département, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France. anthony.chauvin@lrb.aphp.fr.|Faculté de Médecine, Université Diderot, Paris, France. anthony.chauvin@lrb.aphp.fr.|AJMU, Association des Jeunes Médecins Urgentistes, Paris, France. anthony.chauvin@lrb.aphp.fr.|Hospital Lariboisière, Service d'Accueil des Urgences, 2, rue Ambroise Pare, 75010, Paris, France. anthony.chauvin@lrb.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chauvin
authors.affiliation: AJMU, Association des Jeunes Médecins Urgentistes, Paris, France.|Emergency Département, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.|Faculté de Médecine, Université Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hutin
authors.affiliation: AJMU, Association des Jeunes Médecins Urgentistes, Paris, France.|Emergency Département, Hôpital Mignot, Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leredu
authors.affiliation: Emergency Département, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.|Faculté de Médecine, Université Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Plaisance
authors.affiliation: Emergency Département, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.|Faculté de Médecine, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pateron
authors.affiliation: Emergency Département, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.|Faculté de Médecine, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.|AJMU, Association des Jeunes Médecins Urgentistes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Youri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yordanov
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005602:France; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Blood exposure; Emergency medicine; Post-exposure prophylaxis; Residency; Survey