Work accidents with biological material: factors associated with abandoning clinical and laboratory follow-up.

Tatiana Luciano Sardeiro,Anaclara Ferreira Veiga Tipple,Thaís De Arvelos Salgado,Hélio Galdino Júnior,Camila Lucas De Souza,Zilah Cândida Pereira Neves

doi:10.1590/s1980-220x2018029703516

Abstract

To analyze the epidemiology of abandoning clinical and laboratory follow-up among health workers who suffered accidents with biological material. Cohort study based on reported work accidents with biological material in Goiânia/Goiás. Data were analyzed in Stata with descriptive and analytical statistics. 2,104 exposures of the 8,596 reported accidents were analyzed, most of them involving females with completed high school education and belonging to the nursing staff. The accidents predominantly occurred by percutaneous injury involving a needle with lumen during medication administration or vascular access. Follow-up abandonment rate was 41.5%. Predictive factors for discontinuing clinical and laboratory follow-up were age, occupation, use of personal protective equipment (gowns), the object involved in the accident, situation in the labor market, circumstance of exposure and recommended prophylactic conduct. Given the high abandonment rate found, it is suggested to implement strategies to ensure follow-up and reduce risks to health workers.

Highlights

Accidents with biological material involve a worker coming into contact with blood and/or other organic fluids during the workday
The study population consisted of health workers characterized as professionals directly or indirectly inserted in providing services in health facilities[12], over 18 years old who suffered accidents with biological material and were attended in Goiânia in a 10-year period from 2006, constituting the implementation year of the Notification Disease Information System (SINAN – Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notif icação) in the state of Goiás (2006-2016)
The accidents analyzed in this study occurred with health workers over 18 years old, who were treated in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil after occupational exposure to biological material which occurred between 2006 and 2016 and had an indication for clinical and laboratory follow-up

Summary

Introduction

Accidents with biological material involve a worker coming into contact with blood and/or other organic fluids during the workday. The most frequent exposures occur from percutaneous inoculation, direct contact with skin and/or mucous membranes[1]. The risk of the accident varies according to the exposure type, severity, size of the injury, presence and volume of blood involved, clinical source conditions and applied prophylactic measures[2]. In accidents where the serological status of the source is unknown or positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV ), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV ) or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), the worker should conduct a clinical and laboratory follow-up. Antiretroviral toxicity, laboratory test results and the need for other post-exposure procedures are monitored during follow-up. The worker is advised about the care that should be implemented until the seroconversion risk is eliminated[2]

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion