Accidental exposure to health care workers of blood and body fluids from patients Exposicion accidental del personal de salud a sangre y liquidos biologicos de pacientes.

Abstract

Due to the growing concern of Health Care Workers (HCW) regarding the possibility of acquiring blood borne infections through accidental occupational exposure and the fact that HIV and Hepatitis B infections have occurred in that setting, an evaluation of the frequency of accidents and their circumstances, suffered by HCW with blood or body fluids from patients was carried out. 1,340 self administered questionnaires were given to HCW with direct contact with patients in a general 800 beds hospital, requiring information of accidental percutaneous, mucosal or cutaneous (it not intact) exposures to blood or certain (risky) body fluids ever and/or in the last 6 months. Sixty five percent of HCW referred some exposure ever and 46% in the last 6 months. The rate of exposure ever ranged from 36.6% in medical students to 69.5% in doctors, 78.5% in nurses to 100% in dentists. Seventy seven percent of the exposures were seen during routine care, 28.5% were perceived as due to personal carelessn