Occupational exposure risk to body fluids in the Felix Bulnes hospital during eleven years Exposición laboral a fluidos corporales de riesgo en el Hospital Clínico Félix Bulnes Cerda durante 11 años de estudio

Abstract

Accidents with risk of occupational exposure to body fluids constitute more of a third of labor accidents. Objective: To describe the annual incidence of accidents with exposure to body fluids in the Felix Bulnes Hospital from1998 to 2008. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of reports from the Infection Control Committee. Results: During 11 years, there were 415 accidents with exposure to body fluids, with the cumulative incidence of 3,4%(range 1.3% to 6%). Sharp instrument accidents accounted for 92,5% of cases. The main health care providers affected were the paramedical technicians and the students. The highest frequency of accidents occurred in the obstetrical operating rooms (20%) and in the central operating rooms (17%). There were no cases of seroconversion and no exposure to HCV or HBV. The estimated costs were USD $35638,6 or USD $271 per 1000 staff per year. Conclusions: The incidence increased during the first years of the study and then remained stable since 200