title: Biological accidents in last-year medical students from three hospitals in Lima Peru.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and characteristics of biological accidents in last-year medical students from three hospitals in Lima.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study performed at three Public Health Insurance hospitals in Lima, in December 2014. The study population comprised last-year medical interns. Biological accidents were recorded with a questionnaire of exposure to blood and body fluids based on the formats used by the Exposure Prevention Information Network system and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We inquired about occurrence and number of biological accidents as well as the characteristics of the last accident. Categorical data are presented as absolute and percentage frequencies and numeric data, as median and interquartile ranges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We collected 100 respondents; 85% of them had had a biological accident during the last year, with a median of 2 and interquartile range of 3. The most frequent type of exposure was percutaneous (71.8%) and the most common device was the hollow needle (54.1%). The most frequent place of occurrence and activities at the moment of exposure were at the delivery room (44.7%), while supervising a vaginal delivery (24.7%), and during suturing (24.7%). Three accidents involved high-risk patients, but only one student received antiviral prophylaxis; 49.4% attributed the cause of the accident to fatigue, and 75.3% of accidents are not reported. Gloves are the most used protective barrier (95%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of biological accidents among last-year medical students is high. Underreporting and inappropriate use of protective barriers increase the risk of medical students for biological accidents.
authors: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa, Perú. Address; Urbanización Guardia Civil, Manzana F, Lote 11, Paucarpata, Arequipa, Perú. Email: lily_797_chc@hotmail.com.
authors: Lilyan Consuelo
authors: LC
authors: Charca-Benavente
authors: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa, Perú
authors: Grozny Howell
authors: GH
authors: Huanca-Ruelas
authors: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa, Perú
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Moreno-Loaiza
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010568:Peru; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: biohazard release; body fluids; medical students; needlestick injuries; universal precautions