title: Occupational Health Update: Focus on Preventing the Acquisition of Infections with Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Postexposure Prophylaxis.
abstract: Health care personnel are commonly exposed to infectious agents via sharp injuries (eg, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus), direct patient care (eg, pertussis and meningococcus), and the contaminated environment (eg, Clostridium difficile). An effective occupational program is a key aspect of preventing acquisition of an infection by offering the following: (1) education of health care personnel regarding proper handling of sharps, early identification and isolation of potentially infectious patients, and hand hygiene; (2) assuring immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases; and, (3) immediate availability of a medical evaluation after a nonprotected exposure to an infectious disease.
authors: Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA. Electronic address: dweber@unch.unc.edu.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Weber
authors: Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA.
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Rutala
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D065129:Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
keywords: HIV; Health care personnel; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Occupational health; Postexposure prophylaxis; Vaccines