Blood Splashes Research Articles

Analysis of Adverse Event Notifications Within the Scope of Patient and Employee Safety: An Example of a Public Hospital

This study aimed to analyze the adverse events reported in a public hospital within the scope of patient and employee safety, to develop studies aimed at learning from errors and to increase the awareness of healthcare professionals and to increase the quality of healthcare service provision. The research was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective quantitative research design. Data were obtained from the Hospital Information Management System and written records with the data collection form created by the researcher. Data were obtained from the adverse events reported between 01.01.2022 and 30.12.2023. According to the findings of the research; A total of 3447 patient safety adverse event reports were made in 2022, and it was determined that 19 of them were falls, 8 were medication safety, 5 were transfusion safety, and 3415 were laboratory safety. A total of 4788 patient safety adverse event reports were made in 2023, and it was determined that 37 of them were falls, 20 were medication safety, 2 were transfusion safety, and 4729 were laboratory safety. In 2022, a total of 111 employee safety undesirable incidents were reported, of which 59 were sharp-edged injuries, 9 were blood and body fluid splashes, and 45 were legal incidents. In 2023, a total of 120 employee safety undesirable incidents were reported, of which 63 were sharp-edged injuries, 6 were blood and body fluid splashes, and 51 were legal incidents. When the 2022-2023 undesirable incident reports are compared, it is seen that the number of reports has increased over the years, which indicates that a reporting culture has been formed in the institution. As a result of the research; It was determined that the most reported undesirable incidents were laboratory safety and sharp-edged injuries.

Occupational Exposure and HIV Prevalence among Healthcare Workers: Risks, Prevention, and Management Strategies

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at heightened risk of occupational exposure to HIV due to their frequent interaction with blood and bodily fluids. This exposure led to potential HIV transmission if not managed promptly and effectively. This review provided a comprehensive examination of the risks associated with HIV exposure among HCWs, exploring the prevalence of such incidents, and evaluating current prevention and management strategies. Key risks included needlestick injuries and blood splashes, with prevalence varying significantly by region, particularly in areas with high HIV burden. Prevention strategies encompassed adherence to standard precautions, use of safety-engineered devices, comprehensive training, and the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Effective management involved immediate post-exposure assessment, timely administration of PEP, regular follow-up care, and access to counseling services. The review synthesizes recent research and clinical evidence, utilizing a systematic analysis of literature and guidelines to inform best practices in HIV risk management for HCWs. By addressing these strategies, the review aimed to enhance safety protocols and improve health outcomes within healthcare settings. Keywords: Occupational Exposure, Healthcare Workers, HIV Prevention, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Infection Control.

Evaluation of Forensic Luminol in Detection of Blood Stains in Instruments Following Dental Treatment.

Background Saliva and blood, being biological materials with a high potential for infectious transmission in dental environments, pose significant risks to dental professionals, assistants, and patients alike. Therefore, practitioners must adopt stringent security measures to ensure patient care, considering all parties as potential carriers of microorganisms capable of causing infectious diseases. Currently, various methods of disinfection and sterilization are employed to maintain the aseptic chain effectively. Having reliable methods for detecting substances in liquids, particularly body fluids, is crucial and highly convenient. Luminol, a chemiluminescent agent widely used in forensic science for detecting minute traces of blood that are invisible to the naked eye, presents itself as a valuable tool. Blood, a major bodily fluid often present in instruments following dental procedures, underscores the importance of its detection. Hence, in this study, luminol was utilized to detect blood traces in dental instruments following dental treatment, both before and after sterilization or disinfection. Objective Blood and saliva splashes, together with highly contagious aerosols, are always a part of dental procedures. The objective of the current study is to detect traces of blood stains on face shields, surgical instruments, and endodontic files using luminol before and after sterilization. Materials and methods Sample size calculation was done with G*Power software (Version 3.1.9.4, Düsseldorf, Germany), and a total of 30 instruments were selected for the study. In the present study, a total of 30 items were collected and utilized, including 14 instruments used after implant placement, 12 endodontic files employed after root canal treatment, and four face shields utilized during these procedures. Meanwhile, a freshly prepared luminol solution was applied to these instruments, and they were viewed in a dark environment both before and after sterilization procedures. Luminescence generated by luminol was observed in the instruments, indicative of the presence of blood not visible to the naked eye. Statistical analysis for both groups was done with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 16.0 (Released 2007; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Intragroup comparison was done using the Friedman test, and intergroup comparison was done using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Blood stains and chemiluminescence were visualized in two out of 10 endodontic files (one #15 K-file and #20 K-files) and two out of four face shields. The intragroup comparison was done using the Friedman test, and it was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Intergroup comparison was done using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and was found to be statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Conclusion Following sterilization and disinfection, there were no visual blood stains or chemiluminescence. Therefore, luminol was found to be effective in detecting blood stains in endodontic files, surgical instruments, and face shields, as well as in validating the sterilization and disinfection processes. Hence, sterilization in dentistry stands as a critical measure to guarantee patient safety, halt the dissemination of infections, and uphold exemplary clinical care standards.

Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Abstract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease with high morbidity and case fatality rates (CFR) in humans, especially among the high-risk groups, including butchers. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul City to determine the knowledge gaps and risky behaviors of Kabul City’s butchers about CCHF. Data were collected from 123 butchers by structured interview using a pre-designed questionnaire. The finding of the present study revealed that of the total CCHF cases in the butchers, their family members, and co-workers, 37.9% died. Nearly half of the butchers (45.0%) experienced splashing of animal blood on their faces, while 70.1% of them had cut their hands with a knife during their occupation life. In addition, 27.0% of the respondents held the knife in their mouth while dressing the animal carcasses, and 27.3% of the butchers consumed raw liver. Hand washing and PPE application were practiced by 94.3% and 22.8% of the respondents, respectively. About 92% of the respondents had heard about CCHF, and 67.4% of the participants had good knowledge about CCHF. The knowledge level of the respondents (poor or good) was statistically related to their age, history of blood splash in the face and eyes of the butchers, holding work knives in the mouth, blowing the skin of animals, hand washing with soap and water, and slaughter places ( p &lt; 0.05). A medium correlation between education and total knowledge of the butchers was observed (r = 0.3; p &lt; 0.05). It is necessary to change such high-risk behaviors by continually coordinating awareness campaigns through mass media, workshops, and informative leaflet distribution to improve knowledge. One Health impact statement CCHF is a multifaceted zoonotic disease where tick bites, direct contact with the tissue, secretions, and body fluids of the infected animals and humans, and consumption of raw milk, meat, and liver of infected animals are the main transmission methods of the disease to humans. Although livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and ostrich are the main reservoirs of the virus, they are infected in subclinical form, and humans are the only hosts where fatal clinical disease develops. Since the CCHF virus circulates in nature between tick-vertebrates-ticks, the only method that can effectively control and prevent the disease in humans is by using a targeted One Health approach between the human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors. Meanwhile, it has been proven that public awareness campaigns through the use of mass media, community leaders, and integrated workshops are the most effective tools to prevent the transmission of the CCHF virus from infected animals and ticks to humans.

National Beef Quality Audit-2022: in-plant assessments of quality and yield determining carcass characteristics of fed steers and heifers.

The National Beef Quality Audit -2022 serves as a benchmark of the current fed steer and heifer population of the U.S. beef industry and allows comparison to previous audits as a method of monitoring industry progress. In-plant cooler assessments and collections of beef carcass data took place from July 2021 to November 2022. During in-plant evaluations, 10% of 1-d production was surveyed for quality and yield indicating characteristics of fed beef carcasses (n = 9,746 beef carcasses). Distributions of sex classes among sampled carcasses were steer (65.0%) and heifer (35.0%), whereas distributions of breed type were native (87.7%), dairy (11.3%), and Bos indicus (0.9%). Mean values were observed for USDA Yield Grades (YG; 3.3), USDA Quality Grade (QG;Choice16), marbling score (Small98), ribeye area (91.0cm2), adjusted fat thickness (1.49cm), hot carcass weight (401.9kg), and KPH (2.5%). Mean overall maturity was A66, with a mean lean maturity of A56 and mean skeletal maturity of A72. There were 28.1% of carcasses identified for use in a USDA-certified beef G-Schedule Program. Defects, such as dark cutting and blood splash, were observed at 1.8% and 0.5%, respectively. Distributions of USDA YG were YG 1 (8.2%), YG 2 (30.7%), YG 3 (40.2%), YG 4 (16.6%), and YG 5 (4.3%). USDA QGs were observed at 7.5% Prime, 69.2% Choice, 16.4% Select, and 6.8% other. The results of this study provide an updated look at the current grading trends of beef carcasses in the United States to drive progress in the fed beef industry.

Analysis of factors related to the incidence of HIV/AIDS in adolescents aged 12-15 years at the Sorong Papua Community Health Center

HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system and weakens our body's ability to fight all diseases that come. A dangerous disease caused by a virus that is transmitted through bodily fluids, especially due to sexual intercourse and injection drug use. Exposure to biological hazards can be caused by various means including ingestion, inoculation, bites, inhalation, through contact with skin abrasions and through blood splashes. The aim is to determine adolescent behavior and knowledge related to the incidence of HIV/AIDS in adolescents aged 12-15. This research is a quantitative research with a cross-sectional approach. In cross-sectional research, the researcher measures variables at a certain time on each subject who is only observed once and the subject variables are measured at the time of examination. Based on the results of research regarding the relationship between adolescent behavior and the incidence of HIV/AIDS in adolescents aged 12-15 years with objective criteria of being at risk and not being at risk, the result was that. From the results of data analysis using the chi-square statistical test, the value of p=0.486(α&gt;0) was obtained. .05), this means Ha is accepted and Ho is rejected. Thus it can be said that there is a relationship between behavior.

Flow patterns of blood post-application of cross-clamp during cardiopulmonary bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a common procedure carried out to provide a fluid-free and motionless work field at the time of cardiac surgical procedures. To achieve CPB, cannulation of the aorta, that is, insertion of the aortic cannula into the aorta to complete the extracorporeal blood flow circuit, is essential. The flow patterns of blood during CPB are very different from physiological flow, and as blood from the heart–lung machine enters the aorta, which is never fully evacuated, these flow patterns are of particular importance. This work focusses on the flow patterns of the blood as it enters the aorta post-placement of the cross-clamp. The investigation showed the high-velocity impingement of blood on the aortic wall resulting in the “Sandblasting” effect. High fluid shear rates are also seen in regions of the flow field. It also showed the recirculation patterns and the formation of eddies as well as the splashing of blood within the aorta, originating at the point of impingement. Retrograde flow was also observed during the initial few seconds of the procedure.

Use of a Gigli Saw as a Substitute Osteotomy Tool When Oscillating Saw Malfunctions Occur During Hip Arthroplasty.

The oscillating saw has some inherent disadvantages, such as notch formation and blood splash. The objective is to introduce the Gigli saw as a substitute osteotomy tool when oscillating saw malfunctions occur during surgery. During our retrospective study, 120 patients (120 hips) who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) because of femoral neck fracture, femoral head necrosis, developmental hip dysplasia (Crowe I), or primary osteoarthritis between October 2017 and April 2020 at our institute were included. Sixty patients (26 men and 34 women) with a mean age of 67.3 years (±15.1 years) underwent femoral neck osteotomy using a Gigli saw. The other 60 patients (32 men and 28 women) with a mean age of 64.4 years (±18.8 years) underwent femoral neck osteotomy using an oscillating saw. Intraoperative evaluations, including osteotomy time, osteotomy height, number of notch formations, and blood splash generation, were performed. Routine anteroposterior views of the pelvis and proximal femur were obtained for all patients after surgery. The mean osteotomy times were 26.60 ± 14.80 s and 31.80 ± 14.20 s with the oscillating saw and Gigli saw, respectively (t=1.964, P=0.0519). The mean osteotomy heights were 1.26 ± 0.22 cm and 1.20 ± 0.14 cm with the oscillating saw and Gigli saw, respectively (t=1.782, P=0.0773). The use of a Gigli saw did not result in bone notch formation or blood splash generation when multiple blood splashes were generated in the oscillating saw group. Postoperative radiographs showed no prostheses malposition in the Gigli saw and oscillating saw groups. The Gigli saw has various advantages and can be a substitute tool for femoral neck osteotomy during THA when oscillating saw malfunctions occur.

Occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection and associated factors among healthcare workers in Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Tunisia.

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Indeed, they are exposed to blood and body fluid which put them at an important risk of transmission of various blood borne pathogens including HCV. The goal of this study was to determine the magnitude of occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection as well as the factors associated to this exposure among HCWs at a Tunisian University Hospital in 2017.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out at Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital in Monastir Governorate (Tunisia) from 01 June 2017 to 31 August 2017. Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire. To determine factors associated with occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection, we performed multivariate analysis.ResultsAmong the 1493 included participants, more than half (56.7) had at least one exposure to blood or body fluid. A history of needle stick injury was reported by 48.3% of the respondents. Exposure to blood or body fluid splash into the face was announced by 32.1% HCWs. Doctors had the highest risk of exposure (AOR = 12.425; 95% CI: [05.310–29.075]). Participants working at surgical departments were the most exposed comparing to workers at others departments (AOR = 7.440; 95% CI: [4.461–12.408]). Two exposed female HCWs were tested positive corresponding to a HCV infection prevalence of 0.13% (95% IC: [0.11–0.16%]).ConclusionOccupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection was high at the university hospital of Monastir. Despite the low magnitude of HCV infection, preventive actions should be taken to promote the safety of health care personnel.

Sharps Injuries Among Healthcare Providers in Uyo, Southern Nigeria

Introduction: Healthcare workers are at risk of exposures to blood and body fluids through splashes and sharps injuries while working in health facilities. This study was conducted to assess the level of sharps injuries and contact with patients’ body fluid among health workers in Uyo, Nigeria.Method: This was a comparative study among healthcare workers. A total of 360 individuals comprising 240 (66.7%) in public facilities and 120 (33.3%) in private facilities were interviewed via a selfadministered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 11.Result: A higher proportion of respondents, 98 (81.7%), from the private compared to 133 (55.4%) from the public hospitals had sustained injury by sharps at their health facilities (p &lt; 0.05).Out of this, up to 91.8% in the private facilities compared to 70.6% in the public had sustained injuries within the 12 months prior to the study (p &lt; 0.05). Ninety two (93.9%) in the private facilities,and 99 (74.4%) in the public facilities, (p &lt; 0.05) did not report the last sharps injuries to relevant authorities in their facilities. A higher proportion of the respondents in the private hospitals, 92 (76.6%), had ever had accidental splash of blood or other body fluidscompared to 126 (52.5%) in the public hospitals (p &lt; 0.05). Only 113 (53.3%), in the public and 28 (40.6%) in the private facilities, were aware of policies about practice of Universal Precautions in their facilities.Conclusion: There was a high rate of sharps injuries among health workers. Adequate practice of universal precautions should be ensured in these facilities.

Blood and saliva contamination on protective eyewear during dental treatment.

ObjectivesDental treatments are inherently associated with the appearance of potentially infective aerosols, blood and saliva splashes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the quantitative contamination of protective eyewear during different dental treatments and the efficacy of the subsequent disinfection.Materials and methodsFifty-three standardized protective eyewear shields worn by students, dentists and dental assistants during different aerosol-producing dental treatment modalities (supragingival cleaning, subgingival periodontal instrumentation, trepanation and root canal treatment and carious cavity preparation; within all treatments, dental evacuation systems were used) were analysed, using common forensic techniques. For detection of blood contamination, luminol solution was applied onto the surface of safety shields. A special forensic test paper was used to visualize saliva contamination. Further analysis was conducted after standardized disinfection using the same techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.ResultsMacroscopically detectable contamination was found on 60.4% of protective eyewear surfaces. A contamination with blood (median 330 pixels, equivalent to 0.3% of the total surface) was detected on all shields after dental treatment. Between various dental treatments, the contamination with blood tend to be statistically significant (p = 0.054). Highest amount of blood was observed after professional tooth cleaning (median 1,087 pixels). Significant differences of saliva contamination were detected between the different measurements (p < 0.001) with contamination only after dental treatment. Due to the low variance and right-skewed distribution for saliva contamination, no statistical analysis between different treatments could be performed. After disinfection, 0.02% blood contamination and no saliva contamination were detected.ConclusionsDisinfection is effective against blood and saliva contamination. Macroscopically, clean protective eyewear contains up to 12% surface contamination with blood. Based on the results, it may be concluded that protective eyewear is essential for each dental practitioner.Clinical relevanceAs standard for infection prevention in the dental practice, disinfection of protective eyewear after each patient is necessary.

A Quick Laboratory Method for Assessment of Blood Penetration and Splash Resistance of PPE Fabrics During the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation.

In the current outbreak of COVID-19, healthcare facilities are hit by a shortage of supply of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) owing to extensive local and global demands and restrictions on their import or export. To circumvent this, trials with several indigenous materials suitable to qualify for PPEs and sterilization techniques for their reuse are being carried out. Prior to their commercialisation, it is imperative to evaluate the resistance of the PPE fabrics against penetration of synthetic blood under applied pressure, 40–300 mmHg as per test standards. Generally, two types of tests are recommended, Penetration Test and Splash Resistance Test, the former being more stringent. While the final certification of PPEs is carried out by authorised agencies, a first impression quick estimate of the choice of fabric can be made using a simple laboratory set-up. This study describes setups developed in the laboratory to carry out these tests. Evaluation of the fabrics, post-gamma irradiation, was also carried out. Microscopic examinations were performed to investigate radiation-induced structural changes in fabrics showing degraded performance. This set-up is useful for selection of fabrics and to assess the feasibility of reuse of PPEs, which is the need of the hour in this pandemic situation.

Prevalence of Blood-Borne Infection Among Healthcare Workers

Objectives: Needlestick and sharps injuries are a major cause of transmission of blood borne pathogens in health-care workers. The present study aims to examine the yearly incidence and causes of sharps injuries and assess the prevalence of blood-borne infection in provincial healthcare workers in Mongolia. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolling 21 province hospitals across Mongolia was conducted from 2015 to 2019. Descriptive data presented as absolute numbers with percentage and a multivariate analysis was employed to identify the association between risk factors and occupational exposure to blood-borne factors. Results: Of the 20546 health care workers, 12.5% (n = 2566) employees were infected with hepatitis. Approximately 4.4% were infected with hepatitis B; 7.5% with hepatitis C; and 0.6% with hepatitis B, C or B, D. Among health care workers detected with hospital-acquired infection, most were women (n = 84.1%), aged between 41-55 years old (58.9%). Having sharp needlestick injuries, blood and body liquids splash, and a dental service was found to be associated with hospital-acquire infection in the study. Conclusion: Our study results demonstrated that 12 out of 100 health care workers were infected with HAI in Mongolia. This indicates that there be might serious occupational hazards. Public health authorities should consider increasing provision of public health programs such as vaccination, safety equipment and adjusted workload. Health care workers in Mongolia should be informed about the risks and consequences, as well as undertake preventive measures.

Occupational blood exposure beyond needle stick injuries: hospital-based cross-sectional study among healthcare workers in governmental hospitals of Northern Ethiopia

BackgroundOccupational blood exposure is one of the major public health problems that healthcare workers (HCWs) are encountering. Most previous occupational blood exposure studies are delimited to needle stick injury, which could underestimate the real level of blood exposure. On the other hand, others deal with crude blood and body-fluids exposure, which possibly overestimate the magnitude of blood exposure. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the prevalence of occupational blood exposure and identifying associated factors among HCWs in the Southern Tigrai zone governmental hospitals of Northern Ethiopia considering all the potential means of blood exposure (needle stick injury, sharp medical equipment injury, and blood splash) while excluding blood-free body-fluids.MethodsA hospital based cross-sectional study design was employed to gather data from randomly selected HCWs in three governmental hospitals from February to March, 2020. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the independent factors associated with the outcome variable.ResultsFrom the total of 318 HCWs, 148 (46.5 %) were exposed to blood at least once in their lifetime. Working for more than 40 h per week (AOR= 9.4; 95 % CI: 7.61, 11.41), lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) (AOR=3.88; 95 % CI: 1.64, 5.42), Hepatitis B virus vaccination (AOR=0.54; 95 % CI: 0.12,0.78), recapping used needle sticks (AOR=3.18; 95 % CI: 1.28, 8.83), and lack of infection prevention and patient safety (IPPS) training (AOR=13.5; 95 % CI: 8.12,19.11) were detected to significantly increase the likelihood of occupational blood exposure.ConclusionsAs nearly half of the HCWs were exposed to blood, reducing work load below 40 h per week by employing additional staff members, supplying adequate PPE, avoiding recapping of used needle sticks, and providing IPPS training for the HCWs should be practiced.

Avoid blood splash with inexpensive plastic packaging in hip replacements

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital Universitario Infantil de San José, Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de La Salud. Bogotá, Colombia Financial Disclosure: The author reports no conflict of interest. Corresondence to Hugo A. Rodriguez, MD, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Surgery, Hospital Universitario Infantil de San José, Carrera 16ª no 82-46 Cons 401, Bogotá, Colombia Tel: + (57) 1 2960105; fax: + (57) 1 2960596; e-mail: [email protected].

Occupational exposure to blood/body fluid splash and its predictors among midwives working in public health institutions at Addis Ababa city Ethiopia, 2020. Institution-based cross-sectional study.

Blood/body fluid splash are hazards to health care professionals in their working area. Around twenty bloodborne pathogens are known to be transmitted through these occupational injuries. This problem alters the health status of health care professionals in different ways, including physically, mentally, and psychologically. Even though health professionals especially midwives who are working in delivery rooms are highly affected, little is known about the exposure. So, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of exposure to blood/body fluid splash and its predictors among midwives working in public health institutions of Addis Ababa city. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 438 study participants in public health institutions in Addis Ababa. Data was collected from March 1-20, 2020 by a self-administered questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. All variables with P<0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in a final model and statistical significance was declared at P< 0.05. In this study, a total of 424 respondents respond yielding a response rate of 97%. The prevalence of blood and body fluid splashes (BBFs) was 198 (46.7%). Not training on infection prevention, working in two shifts (> 12 hours), not regularly apply universal precautions, job-related stress, an average monthly salary of 5001-8000 were independent predictors of blood and body fluid splashes. The study revealed that nearly half of midwives were exposed to BBFS. This highlights the need for key stakeholders such as policymakers and service providers to design appropriate policies to avert this magnitude and making the environment enabling to comply with standard precautions. We recommend that this study may be done by including rural setting institutions and by including other health professionals that are susceptible to BBFS at work. Formal training on infection prevention and safety practice to apply universal precautions will be needed from the concerned bodies to prevent exposures to blood/body fluid splash.

Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection among medical laboratory science students in a Ghanaian tertiary institution

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among medical laboratory science students (MLSSs) in the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study design was employed to recruit a total of 178 students into the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather relevant information on risk factors, and a hepatitis B diagnostic test kit was used to test for HBV infection. Descriptive, chi-square test, bivariate and multiple logistic regression statistical analysis were computed. Significance was observed at p &lt; 0.05.FindingsThe prevalence of HBV infection among MLSSs was 6.7%. Torn gloves and splash of blood and body fluids contributed to 43.0% and 28.0% of all the risk factors of HBV infection, respectively. Also, 43.3% of students had received at least one dose of the hepatitis B vaccination. Sharp object-related injury and torn gloves increased the odds of HBV infection, while vaccination decreased the odds of HBV infection.Originality/valueThis study reveals the prevalence of HBV among MLSSs, who are recognized as being among the high-risk student populations aside from student nurses.

Needleless electrospun phytochemicals encapsulated nanofibre based 3-ply biodegradable mask for combating COVID-19 pandemic.

The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected human healthand world economies. According to WHO guidelines, continuous use of face mask is mandatory forpersonal protection for restricting the spread of bacteria and virus. Here,we reporta 3-ply cotton-PLA-cotton layered biodegradable face-mask containing encapsulated phytochemicals in the inner-filtration layer. The nano-fibrous PLA filtration layer was fabricated usingneedleless electrospinning of PLA & phytochemical-based herbal-extracts. This 3-layred face mask exhibits enhanced air permeability with a differential pressure of 35.78 Pa/cm2 and superior bacterial filtration efficiency of 97.9% compared to conventional face masks. Close-packed mesh structure of the nano-fibrous mat results in effective adsorption of particulate matter, aerosol particles, and bacterial targets deep inside the filtration layer. The outer hydrophobic layer of mask exhibited effective blood splash resistance up to a distance of 30 cm, ensuring its utilization for medical practices. Computational analysis of constituent phytochemicals using the LibDock algorithm predicted inhibitory activity of chemicals against the protein structured bacterial sites. The computational analysis projected superior performance of phytochemicals considering the presence of stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and Arachidic acid exhibiting structural complementarity to inhibit targeted bacterial interface. Natural cotton fibers and PLA bio-polymer demonstrated promising biodegradable characteristics in the presence of in-house cow-dung based biodegradation slurry. Addition of jaggery to the slurry elevated the biodegradation performance, resulting in increment of change of weight from 07% to 12%. The improved performance was attributed to the increased sucrose content in biodegradation slurry, elevating the bacterial growth in the slurry. An innovative face mask has shown promising results for utilization in day-to-day life and medical frontline workers, considering the post-pandemic environmental impacts.

Prevalence of occupational exposure to HIV and utilization of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis among health staff at Bule Hora General Hospital, Bule Hora, Ethiopia.

Introductionoccupational risk of HIV and low utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among nurses has become a global public health concern. According to the International Labor Organization estimates, 2.02 million people die each year from work-related accidents or diseases. More than 317 million people suffer, and there are an estimated 337 million fatal and non-fatal work-related accidents per year. WHO report indicates, more than 59 million health care workers around the world are exposed to biological hazards and about 10% of HIV among health workers is the result of needle stick injury. This study focused on assessing the prevalence of occupational exposure to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis among nurses at Bule Hora Hospital.Methodsinstitutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 2019 to April 2019. In this study, 306 study participants were involved in the study data was collected using a structured and semi-structured questionnaire. The cleaned data (edited) was entered into Epi-Data version 4.4.3.1 and exported to SPSS Statistics Version 20 for analysis.Resultshigh incidence (61.6%) of occupational exposure to HIV was found in this study. The two leading types of exposure were blood splash 40.5% and needle stick 37.8% injury followed by giving injection 27% and uncooperativeness 21.6% subsequently. About 35.1% of nurses were found to be not using personal protective equipment’s while being exposed to HIV infection while on work.Conclusionoccupational exposure to HIV is quite common among nurses in Bule Hora Hospital. Blood splash exposure and exposure to needle stick injury are believed to be the commonest types of workplace risks. Nearly 29.7% of nurses have no training on infection prevention and management while at work. Nearly 50% of the exposed nurses didn’t report the incident to the concerned authorities. One fourth of the sources of exposure were unscreened and among the screened sources of exposure 42.9% were found to be HIV positive.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Face Shields: A Review

Abstract Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers (HCW) in the spotlight. HCW's face has been reported to be the body part most commonly contaminated by body fluids. The aim of this narrative review to examine the current evidence on face shield as a PPE for droplet or aerosol prevention. Methods A literature search was conducted on the PubMed, MedLine, and Embase databases, with the keywords "face shield", "visor", and "droplet precaution". Biblio graphic search was also under taken. Results Respiratory droplet is particle with diameter greater than 5 µm, while aerosol are ≤ 5 µm according to the World Health Organisation. However, infection is not neatly separated into the dichotomy of droplet versus air borne transmission route. Modelling and simulation have shown the importance of the conjunctival mucosa as a route of transmission of disease in blood splashes, droplets and aerosols containing virus. The limited reports from SARS, COVID-19 and influenza season supports its use. However, HCW do not routinely use face shield if they consider the procedures to be unlikely to be associated with potential contamination. They also erroneously believe that prescription glasses is adequate protection. The issues associated with eye shield use, may be less of a problem with face shield. Conclusion Transmission of viruses is multimodal, and the conjunctival mucosa presents a real risk for viral transmission. Eye and face protection is important to prevent transmission of COVID-19.