title: Risk of occupational exposure to the HBV infection in non-clinical healthcare personnel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational risk of blood-borne infections is investigated mostly among nurses and doctors, studies concerning non-clinical health personnel (nCHP) being rare. The analysis of the occupational exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the history of vaccination against the HBV in the nCHP group has been the aim of the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 458 cases of the occupational exposure to biological agents was conducted: group I - doctors (N = 121, 28%), group II - nursing staff (N = 251, 55%), group III - nCHP (N = 86, 19%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group III the source was usually unknown (group: I - 0.83%, II - 11.16%, III - 86.05%, p < 0.001), and the proportion of individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B before the exposure was the lowest (group: I - 98.35%, II - 97.19%, III - 77.91%, p < 0.001). In this group most exposures resulted from injuries caused by needles/sharps deposited in waste sacks (60%) or anywhere outside of the medical waste container (5%). The possibility of the HBV infection risk during the exposure was found in 25 cases and was significantly more frequent in the group III. The qualification for the HBV post-exposure prophylaxis was also significantly more frequent in the group III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exposure to the occupational risk of the HBV infection also concerns the non-clinical healthcare personnel. The non-clinical healthcare personnel comprises one of the main groups of the HBV post-exposure recipients. It is essential to determine the causes of the low hepatitis B vaccination coverage in the nCHP and consider introduction of mandatory vaccination in this group in Poland. Med Pr 2016;67(3):301-310.
authors.affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). weronika.rymer@umed.wroc.pl.
authors.forename: Weronika
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rymer
authors.affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). agladysz@mp.pl.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gładysz
authors.affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Patophysiology / Katedra i Zakład Patofizjologii). speat.hf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Filipowski
authors.affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). a.w.zubkiewicz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zubkiewicz-Zarębska
authors.affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Physiology / Katedra i Zakład Fizjologii). anna.tuminska@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tumińska
authors.affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). brygidaknysz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brygida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knysz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: HBV; needlestick injury; non-clinical healthcare personnel; occupational risk of HBV infection; orderlies; vaccination against HBV