Occupational exposure to blood-borne or body fluid pathogens among medical interns at Addington Hospital, Durban

Abstract

AbstractBackground: Healthcare workers are at risk of transmission of hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency viruses following accidental exposure to blood and body fluids. Interns are a vulnerable group of healthcare workers, cited as having the highest incidence of accidental needle-stick injuries and splashes with blood or body fluids. The main reason is thought to be a lack of experience and confidence, and underdeveloped dexterity skills, all of which increase risk of exposure. Since the introduction of the new two-year internship, to date no study has been carried out in South Africa comparing the incidence of occupational exposure between first- and second-year interns.Methods: A descriptive study design was devised and a structured questionnaire distributed to all interns employed at Addington Hospital in December 2008. All the interns had completed either one or two years of internship. Data were analysed using the SPSS software package and chi-square tests were applied for comparable varia...