Infektološki glasnik, Vol. 32 No. 4, 2012.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
Assessment of occupational exposure to blood borne infections among personnel at obstetrics and gynecology departments in Croatia
Ivan Obad
; Belupovi lijekovi i kozmetika d.d., Koprivnica, Hrvatska
Dino Papeš
; KBC Zagreb, Klinika za kirurgiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Rok Čivljak
; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Milan Milošević
; Škola narodnog zdravlja "Andrija Štampar", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Valerija Stamenić
; Ministarstvo zdravlja Republike Hrvatske, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Smilja Kalenić
; Škola narodnog zdravlja "Andrija Štampar", Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
Introduction: Hepatitis B, C and HIV can be transmitted by blood and body fluids of infected patients causing the infection among exposed hospital workers. The risk of infection is highest in departments with high exposure to blood including obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) departments.
Aim: Estimate the risk of occupational exposure to blood borne infections among OBGYN personnel in Croatia.
Examinees and methods: An anonymous questionnaires were sent to OBGYN departments in 5 Croatian hospitals. Examinees were divided into three groups: doctors, medical nurses/technicians and ancillary staff. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine normal distribution, and parametric tests for statistical analysis. Returned questionnaires were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVAand χ2-test. Results: Out of 350 employees, the questionnaire returned 182 (52%): 39 doctors, 117 medical nurses/technicians, and 26 ancillary staff. At least one form of exposure throughout their working life experienced 162 (89%) examinees. Average number of occupational exposure incidents per year per employee is 1,4 ± 1,9. Doctors have higher exposure rate than nurses (2.3 vs 1.2; p < 0.001) and ancillary staff (2.3 vs 0.7; p < 0.001). Occupational exposure while handling infectious waste or other manipulations after medical procedure reported 31/81 examinees; one (4,5%) doctor and ten (20%) medical nurses/technicians while recaping a needle. Atotal of 44 (42,3%) health are employees and 10 (90,9%) ancillary staff members reported accidental exposure to blood from unknown source. Doctors are less inclined to report their own exposure compared to medical nurses/technicians (2.9% vs 8.9%; p < 0.001) and ancillary staff (2.9% vs 27.5%; p < 0.001). The likelihood for acquiring infection after needlestick injury was correctly assessed by 40% of doctors, 8% of medical nurses/technicians and none of the ancillary staff members.
Conclusion: The risk of occupational exposure at OBGYN departments in Croatia is greater than expected. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out additional training, particularly among doctors, in order to increase reporting rates and implement appropriate postexposure measures. Also it is necessary to improve infectious waste disposal procedures because a large number of exposure incidents are recorded after the medical procedures are performed. A wider use of safety needles and other safety devices could significantly reduce the number of exposure incidents in the future.
Ključne riječi
Occupational exposure; blood borne infections; obstetrics and gynecology department personnel; exposure incident; needlestick/sharps injury
Hrčak ID:
105101
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.12.2012.
Posjeta: 2.526 *