Post-exposure Procedures Research Articles

Needle stick injury and associated factors among acupuncture practitioners: a cross-sectional study in China

BackgroundNeedle stick injury (NSI) is one of the most common and severe occupational hazards for healthcare workers (HCWs), leading to both physical harm and psychological distress and ultimately affecting patient safety. Previous studies on NSI were predominantly focused on general clinical practice, and limited research has targeted specifical NSI occurring in acupuncture practice in China, which has the greatest use of acupuncture.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate NSI and associated factors among acupuncture practitioners in China.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among acupuncture practitioners across 98 hospitals in southwest China from April to May 2024. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect participants’ experiences of NSI, general information, and knowledge, behavior, and risk perception related to occupational exposure. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine factors associated with NSI.ResultsA total of 578 acupuncture practitioners completed the questionnaire, among whom 34.3% experienced at least one NSI in the past three years, yet 46.0% of these incidents were not reported. Factors associated with an increased risk of NSIs included postgraduate education or higher (OR = 2.174, 95% CI: 1.020, 4.634), high probability of occupational exposure (OR = 2.940, 95% CI: 1.826, 4.735), moderate perception of exposure severity (OR = 9.149, 95% CI: 1.948, 42.97), and high perception of exposure severity (OR = 7.025, 95% CI: 1.497, 32.969). Conversely, factors associated with a reduced risk of NSIs included females (OR = OR = 0.576, 95% CI: 0.379, 0.876), nurses (OR = 0.396, 95% CI: 0.210, 0.746), working in other professions (OR = 0.362, 95% CI: 0.151, 0.868), adherence to standard preventive measures (OR = 0.396, 95% CI: 0.210, 0.746), and consistent adherence to post-exposure procedures (OR = 0.092, 95% CI: 0.021, 0.398).ConclusionNSI is common among acupuncture practitioners in Chinese medical institutions, and under-reporting is significant. Our findings suggest that standard prevention strategies, adherence to exposure protocols, enhanced training, and effective reporting policies may help reduce NSI and improve reporting rates.

Olive Mill Wastewater Extract: In Vitro Genotoxicity/Antigenotoxicity Assessment on HepaRG Cells.

Olive mill wastewater (OMWW), with its high level of phenolic compounds, simultaneously represents a serious environmental challenge and a great resource with potential nutraceutical activities. To increase the knowledge of OMWW's biological effects, with an aim to developing a food supplement, we performed a chemical characterisation of the extract using the Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-flight spectrometry (LC-QTOF) and an in vitro genotoxicity/antigenotoxicity assessment on HepaRG ™ cells. Chemical analysis revealed that the most abundant phenolic compound was hydroxytyrosol. Biological tests showed that the extract was not cytotoxic at the lowest tested concentrations (from 0.25 to 2.5 mg/mL), unlike the highest concentrations (from 5 to 20 mg/mL). Regarding genotoxic activity, when tested at non-cytotoxic concentrations, the extract did not display any effect. Additionally, the lowest tested OMWW concentrations showed antigenotoxic activity (J-shaped dose-response effect) against a known mutagenic substance, reducing the extent of DNA damage in the co-exposure treatment. The antigenotoxic effect was also obtained in the post-exposure procedure, although only at the extract concentrations of 0.015625 and 0.03125 mg/mL. This behaviour was not confirmed in the pre-exposure protocol. In conclusion, the present study established a maximum non-toxic OMWW extract dose for the HepaRG cell model, smoothing the path for future research.

Knowledge and Training Needs in Nosocomial Infection among Hospital Staff in the City of Kielce, Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction. Nosocomial infections are an integral part of health care services, posing a threat to both patients and medical staff. The duty and role of nursing staff is to prevent nosocomial infections in every hospitalized person. Material and Methodology. The study involved 635 nurses working in various surgical and conservative wards. The technique used was the author’s questionnaire, which contained 30 questions and was divided into three components. Results. The level of knowledge among the surveyed nurses was at a sufficient level for more than half of the total tested population, and its level was influenced by two variables: the specialization held and the level of education. Nurses working in medical wards have a higher level of knowledge in the area of basic concepts related to nosocomial infections, and people who use specialist medical literature and participate in specialist courses have a sufficient level of knowledge. The shortest time since the last training results in a higher level of knowledge and a higher level of knowledge in the area covering the basic concepts of nosocomial infections. The most frequently selected issues on which nurses would like to expand their knowledge were post-exposure procedures and methods of monitoring nosocomial infections. Conclusions. The knowledge of the nursing staff in the field of nosocomial infections is diverse, and its main determinants are specialization, education, and age. A sufficient level of knowledge among the respondents is conditioned primarily by the use of specialist literature and participation in specialist courses, which determine both the scope and area of knowledge on nosocomial infections.

Biological hazards at the nurse's workplace

Occupational exposure to blood is a significant problem among health care workers. Nurses are a group that is particularly at risk. Exposure can lead to HBV, HCV or HIV infection. Extremely important for preventing exposures is improving knowledge of medical personnel about consequences of being infected by bloodborne pathogens, preventive measures and advantages of using those measures, and especially about post-exposure proceedings. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and opinions of nurses employed in anesthesiology and intensive care wards on occupational exposure and post-exposure management. Material and methods: A diagnostic survey method was employed for the research using author’s questionnaire. The study included 117 nurses working in the anesthesiology and intensive care units. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out using the descriptive statistics method. During the statistical verification p<0.05 was assumed as the level of significance of the obtained results. Results and conclusions: The level of knowledge and opinions of the surveyed nurses were not dependent on sociodemographic factors. Nurses use personal protective equipment and know post-exposure procedure, but don’t always follow it. Training doesn’t reduce the number of exposure cases. The most common mechanism of exposure is needle-stick injury.

Assessment of safe injection awareness and practices among healthcare providers at primary health care facilities

BackgroundUnsafe injection necessitates some preventive steps including promoting and assuring the execution of safe injection administration and waste disposal methods. The present study aimed to assess the awareness and practices of safe injection among health care providers working at all primary health care (PHC) facilities in Fayoum governorate, Egypt. Also, it assessed the awareness, readiness, and response related to needle stick injuries (NSIs).MethodsA cross-sectional observational study conducted from September to December 2019 at all working PHC facilities in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, resulted in enrolling 685 health care providers, and observation of 520 injection processes. Data were collected by a combination of staff interviews and structured observation of different injection processes using the WHO revised C tool.ResultsSafe injection and post-exposure NSI policies and procedures was implemented in 96.5% of the PHC facilities. Compliance to hand wash before preparing a procedure was 56.7%. Immediate disposal of used needles was 76.2% in observed injections. Hepatitis B vaccination rate among participants was 87.2%. Most participants 87.6% admitted the existence of a NSI reporting system but only 38.8% of those who had experienced NSI event reported. The rate of NSI was 14%.ConclusionsFayoum PHC facilities have good awareness level among providers and broadly accepted compliance with injection practices as per the WHO tool. Most injection-safety aspects were satisfactory, and implemented measures to face NSI were in place. Appropriate timely actions are required to maintain the fair awareness and improve injections practices in the PHC facilities.

The progress on post-exposure prophylaxis of tetanus immunological preparation in adults

The tetanus has been eliminated in the pregnancy women and newborns in China. However, there is a gap for adult tetanus immunization, and the risk of tetanus infection cannot be ignored. In order to clearly understand the effect of the tetanus to human beings and the current use of tetanus immunological preparation for adult post-exposure prophylaxis, the incidence of the tetanus, the use status of tetanus immunological preparation and recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis at home and abroad were reviewed and summarized, which may provide academic evidence for post-exposure prophylaxis procedures and use of tetanus immunological preparation.

A quasi-experimental trial of the clinical and economic impact of implementing of hepatitis B immunoglobulin policy post needle stick and sharp injuries in reducing its unnecessary use at a tertiary care hospital.

Hepatitis B virus infection has the highest rate of transmission out of the blood-borne viruses in health care workers. Exposure to HBsAg positive source should be managed based on Hepatitis B serology results. Given that Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) is an expensive medication with limited stock levels, it should be given more attention to make sure of its optimum use. This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a policy on the use of HBIG following needle stick and sharp injuries among health care workers. It is a quasi-experimental trial conducted at a Tertiary Care hospital in Saudi Arabia. The participants were health care workers who received HBIG following needle stick and sharp injuries from January 2018 to May 2020. Before and after implementing departmental guidelines and education on the post-exposure procedure, the trial re-evaluated the need for HBIG among the receivers. A total of 60 health care workers received HBIG for needle stick and sharp injuries between the trial period (pre- and post-implementation). The percentage of patients who received inappropriate HBIG was significantly lower during the post-implementation of the guideline (30%) than that among the pre-implementation period (60%). Thus, the direct cost associated with the inappropriate use was reduced from SAR 30000 to SAR 13500 post-implementation. The implementation of HBIG guidelines of use and education has led to a statistically significant decrease in its inappropriate use and led to cost reduction.

Assessment of Epidemiological Safety in the Cosmetic Service Industry in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

The variety of current cosmetic procedures has increased the potential risks of adverse events and infections. In a nationwide cross-sectional study (2013–2015), we assessed the aspects of infection risk in cosmetic services. An anonymous voluntary questionnaire survey was conducted among 813 employees of cosmetic establishments in Poland. The establishments were selected from a register of service providers. The survey was conducted by employees of the State Sanitary Inspectorate during an audit, and the results showed that cosmetic providers were not fully prepared for risk assessment in terms of occupational exposure or infection transmission. The majority of the respondents (84%) reportedly washed the salon tools. Some establishments did not perform any decontamination (2%) or sterilization (~13%) procedures. Occupational punctures or lacerations occurred from needles, ampoules-syringes, or razors. Most respondents had attended professional training or studied medical textbooks. Approximately 1.7% of the respondents had not updated their knowledge, and 5% gained knowledge from unauthorized sources.The project’s results impacted a variety of innovations and improvements in the field of public health. The results were used to update the national education program (2012–2017); more attention has been directed toward effective education in infection prevention, general hygiene, and post-exposure procedures. Moreover, the study’s results were grounds for the introduction of legislative modifications in the field of epidemiological safety standards for cosmetic services in Poland.

Assessing Infection Risks among Clients and Staff Who Use Tattooing Services in Poland: An Observational Study.

Across cultures and generations, people have tattooed their bodies. Although blood-borne infections from tattooing have been reduced, certain service aspects remain improperly managed. We assessed the infection risks associated with tattooing by conducting a cross-sectional study (2013–2014) in Poland using an anonymous questionnaire survey. Scoring procedures for blood-borne infection risks for tattooists and their clients were used. Overall, 255 tattooists were interviewed. A quasi-random selection of tattoo parlors was based on a service register. Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding blood-borne infection risks were assessed using a questionnaire. Simultaneously, tattoo centers were audited. Tattooing had a higher infection risk for tattooists than for clients. Approximately 50% of respondents underwent training on postexposure procedures, which constituted almost one in five of the reported needlestick/cut injuries sustained while working. Furthermore, 25.8% had no knowledge regarding risk from reliable sources, and 2.1% had not broadened their knowledge. Tattooists and their clients are at a risk of infection, and knowledge concerning infection risks remains an underestimated preventative factor. Service quality surveillance and creation of a register for tattoo-related complications may help assess the scale of this public health issue. However, a lack of these records implies the challenges in developing effective organizational and legal protections.

Nursing Student’s Knowledge about Understanding and Prevention of Needle Stick Injury

Introduction. Needle stick injury (NSI) is an occupational health and safety issue. Nursing students are prone to NSI due to lack of experience with handling needles and sharps. Aim. To determine the level of knowledge about the prevention of NSI and examine the level of knowledge about the post-exposure procedure and the students’ understanding of NSI. Methods. The study was conducted in 2017 at the University of Applied Health Sciences in Zagreb. The participants were nursing students from all regions of Croatia. The data was collected using a questionnaire containing 17 questions specifically designed for this study. One question had three subquestions and one had five subquestions regarding the knowledge of how to react if a needle stick injury occurs. The participants also responded to a questionnaire on their socio-demographic data. Results. The study included 149 students. The results show that 16 students have experienced NSI. A statistically significant difference was observed among students who have finished a secondary medical school in the answers about post-NSI interventions and in answers to the question of whether the needle should be recapped. The respondents from medical schools answered correctly. A statistically significant difference was observed among students from non-medical secondary schools in the answers about education on post-exposition procedures and in the answers about necessary action following a needle stick injury. The respondents from non-medical secondary schools had higher scores. Conclusion. The results of this study can be used to establish appropriate education strategies, increase the awareness of needle stick injuries and minimize the occurrence of these injuries among nursing students in Croatia.

Knowledge about post-exposure proceedings of the operating block nurses

Abstract Introduction. Occurrence of occupational exposure is a current problem among medical personnel. Nurses are considered to be a special occupational group exposed to risk of infection with pathogenic microorganisms. An important element of prevention is raising the workers’ knowledge and awareness in the field of occupational hazards and the possibilities of their reduction. Staff education, knowledge of infection prevention methods, and knowledge of safe procedures can reduce the number of exposures to biological material or, if they occur, limit the health consequences. Aim. The aim of the research was to assess the knowledge of nurses employed on the operating block on the risk of occupational exposure and post-exposure proceedings. Material and methods. The research after obtaining the consent of the Bioethical Commission was carried out at the turn of 2017 and 2018 in a group of 100 anesthesia nurses employed on operating blocks of two hospitals in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The author’s questionnaire was used for the research. Obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis, in which the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the correlation of Spearman’s rank order were used. During the statistical verification of the collected material, p<0.05 was assumed as the level of significance of the obtained results. Results and conclusions. The examined anesthesia nurses had knowledge about post-exposure procedures at a very good level (the average number of correct answers in the conducted test of knowledge was 14.41 out of 18, which constituted 80.06% of correct answers). The level of knowledge of the examined nurses was not dependent on such factors as: seniority, education, postgraduate education, training during the adaptation period on the operating block, adherence to epidemiological procedures, work on the post in which the procedure for occupational exposure is implemented and followed. The age of the nurses significantly influenced their level of knowledge.

Prevalence of occupational infectious diseases among primary oral health care teams and prevention measures.

BackgroundThe dental surgeon and dental health assistant experience risk situations and must be prepared for the prevention of diseases and accidents at work.ObjectiveEvaluating the prevalence of occupational infectious diseases and prevention measures used by the DS and dental health assistants.MethodsCross-sectional study carried out with professionals working at the Northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul. We carried out an interview using a structured questionnaire containing variables related to sociodemographic factors and prevention of infectious diseases. Subjects were submitted to blood collection for serological test for infectious diseases.ResultsThe use of goggles and cap was higher among the dental health assistant. The dental surgeon reported frequent use of mask: 45.5% replaced the used mask at each new patient. All participants reported using gloves and changing them for each new patient. 78.3% of workers have attended patients with infectious diseases. Among professionals evaluated, dental surgeons reported the highest number of accidents with needle stick instruments (59.1%). Post-exposure prophylaxis procedures are known by 68.2% of dental surgeon and 62.5% of dental health assistant. We did not find positive results for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).ConclusionsWe did not found cases of occupational infectious disease. Dental professionals adopt some preventive actions, but a few professionals, even knowing about the risks they will be exposed during work, do not use some protective equipment.

Assessing Infection Risks Among Clients and Staff Using Tattooing Services in Poland

Background: Across cultures and through the ages, people have tattooed their bodies. However, clients attending tattooing services may be at risk due to the use of dyes that compromise the immune system, and unintentional pathogenic infection may further increase client risk. To reduce these risks, aseptic techniques should be used and maintained throughout the period of tattooing, until completion of wound healing. Client education concerning tattoo-related health risks and risk prevention is needed to ensure appropriate understanding before informed consent is given prior to tattooing. This study aimed to assess the risks of transmitting infections due to tattooing. Methods: From 2013 to 2014, an anonymous questionnaire survey and simultaneous audits were conducted in all of Poland's voivodships (the highest-level administrative subdivisions of Poland), and 255 individuals who performed tattoos and permanent makeup were interviewed. A quasi-random selection of tattoo parlors was based on a register of services. Scoring procedures concerning blood-borne infection risks for individuals performing tattoos and for their clients were applied in the analyses. Findings: Of the respondents, approximately 50% had participated in training on post-exposure procedures, almost one in five reported needlestick/cut injuries sustained while working, 25·8% had not obtained their knowledge in relation to risk from reliable sources, and 2·1% had not sought to broaden their knowledge. Interpretation: Tattooists and their clients are at risk of infection, and knowledge concerning the risk of infection is still an underestimated preventative factor. Service quality surveillance and the establishment of a register for tattoo-related complications may provide an opportunity to assess the scale of this public health issue. However, the lack of a register that records tattoo-related adverse reactions and complications means that it has not yet been possible to develop effective organizational and legal protections. Funding Statement: Swiss Contribution and the Polish Ministry of Health (No: KIK35) as well as voluntary inputs. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous, and informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to commencing the interviews. The study proposal and design was accepted by the “Project HCV” Steering Committee and was undertaken at tattoo centers by State Sanitary Inspection staff during their routine duties.

Colon polyps in patients with short bowel syndrome before and after teduglutide: Post hoc analysis of the STEPS study series.

Teduglutide promotes intestinal growth and is approved for the treatment of short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure (SBS-IF). Based on the pharmacologic activity and preclinical findings, teduglutide can potentially induce proliferative colonic mucosal changes.The aim of this study is to report the occurrence of colorectal polyps in adult patients with SBS-IF who received teduglutide in clinical studies conducted to date. A post hoc analysis of the completed Study of Teduglutide Effectiveness in Parenteral Nutrition-Dependent Short Bowel Syndrome Subjects (STEPS) clinical study series (NCT00798967, EudraCT 2008-006193-15; NCT00930644, EudraCT 2009-011679-65; NCT01560403) evaluated electronic case report form data for baseline colonoscopies (performed before treatment) and for surveillance or end-of-study (performed after treatment with teduglutide 0.05mg/kg/day for 24 and 36 months) post-exposure procedures. In the STEPS studies, 73 patients treated with teduglutide had a baseline colonoscopy. No post-exposure colonoscopy was scheduled in STEPS. In STEPS-2/3, 50 of 65 patients with remnant colon (77%) underwent a protocol-mandated post-exposure colonoscopy. Colon polyps were reported at baseline in 12% (9/73) of patients and post-exposure in 18% (9/50) of patients. Two had polyps both at baseline and post-exposure. On histology, available for 7 patients, 5 had adenomas (1 serrated, 4 tubular) and none had malignancy or high-grade dysplasia. These data support recommendations for colonoscopic screening before teduglutide therapy and subsequent on-therapy colonoscopic surveillance for patients with SBS-IF. Further studies are required to assess the risk of polyp formation in patients with SBS-IF and the most appropriate colon polyp surveillance strategies.

Retrospective investigation of 9 years of data on needlestick and sharps injuries: Effect of a hospital infection control committee

The risk of occupational transmission of bloodborne pathogens to health care workers is primarily associated with needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs). However, most NSIs are not reported, and most health care workers are not aware of postexposure procedures. Data for NSIs reported in our hospital between 2008 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 546 staff members reported NSIs. Of these, 376 (68.9%) were women. NSIs were more commonly reported by trainee nurses (243 [44.5%]), followed by nurses (121 [22.2%]), cleaning staff (108 [19.8%]), and doctors (49 [9%]). The rate of postexposure interventions was 13% in 2008 and 92.6% in 2016 (P < .0001; χ2 = 82.866). NSI rates also show that the number of applications with NSIs increased over the years. When occupational blood exposure was examined, the number of bloodborne pathogens was 50 (9.3%) cases of hepatitis B virus, 30 (5.6%) cases of hepatitis C virus, 3 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, 1 case of HIV, and 2 cases of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus coinfection. Over the years, the increase in both the appropriate intervention rate and the number of reports to the hospital infection control committee after NSIs shows that regular training regarding NSIs is effective. Hospital infection control committees may play a more active role in raising awareness in this regard and thus reducing the rate of unreported NSIs.

Circumstances and Structure of Occupational Sharp Injuries among Healthcare Workers of a Selected Hospital in Central Poland.

(1) Background: An analysis of work-related sharp injuries in Healthcare Workers (HCWs) based at a selected hospital in Central Poland by presenting the frequency of accidents, injury rates, and identifying circumstances of Needle Sticks and Sharp Injuries (NSSI) and giving Post-Exposure Procedures (PEP). (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical documentation regarding work-related NSSI at a district hospital located in central Poland; over the period 2010–2017. The study group included HCWs who had an accident while on duty. (3) Results: Most injuries were reported by nurses and staff over 40, on the morning shift. The most common injuries were using a needle. The most exposed part of the body were fingers. The average annual injury rates were: 1.22/100 Nurses; 2.02/100 doctors; 1.34/100 hospital beds; and 8.59/100,000 inpatient days. The rates for 3-year periods, after the implementation of legal regulations were higher than before. Conclusion: Injuries rates are more reliable for comparison than frequency. Legislation on the need to register injuries seems to be necessary. In the supervision of work safety of personnel, reliable reporting of all injuries by the respective HCWs plays a key role.

Post-Exposure Procedures including Prophylaxis : First National Electronic Registry for Iran

Post-Exposure Procedures including Prophylaxis : First National Electronic Registry for Iran

Did legal regulations change the reporting frequency of sharp injuries of medical personnel? Study from 36 hospitals in Łódź Province, Poland.

The aim of the study has been to analyze the epidemiological data on sharp injuries among health care workers before and after the implementation of regulations related to the conduct of the register of sharp injuries. We hypothesized that the introduction of legislation would change the existing low reportability of sharp injuries and reporting incidents would increase. In Poland the binding regulations, dating back to 2013, require the employer to keep a record of sharp injuries. Therefore, we compared the data from before and after the entry regulations. Data was collected from the records of occupational exposure/accidents at work in hospitals in the Łódź Province during 2010-2014. The feedback came from 36 hospitals (return index = 51.5%), representing a total annual average of 13 211 medical workers. The incidence of injuries did not change significantly over the period 2010-2014, and the number of reported injuries in 2014 (the year when the Regulation had already been effective) was even lower than in the previous years. The average annual injury index was 12.31 injuries per 1000 employees (95% confidence interval: 11.48-13.16/1000). The incidence of injuries among nurses was significantly higher than in other groups of medical professionals (p < 0.05). These injuries most often occur while using needles (p < 0.05). The obligation to record occupational exposures set forth in current regulations is not likely to improve the reliability of reporting the incidents actually taking place. Further research should focus on identifying barriers to reporting cases of exposure to potentially infectious material. Action should be taken to raise awareness of medical personnel about the possible effects of exposure to infectious material, in particular, the benefits of the implementation of early post-exposure procedures. Perhaps it will increase the reporting frequency of sharp injuries of medical personnel. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(1):37-46.

Awareness of the Risk of Exposure to Infectious Material and the Behaviors of Polish Paramedics with Respect to the Hazards from Blood-Borne Pathogens-A Nationwide Study.

(1) Background: To determine paramedics’ frequency of contact with blood and other body fluids, as well as the analysis of knowledge of paramedics about blood-borne infections, their attitudes to patients infected with blood-borne viruses, and the post-exposure procedures implemented by paramedics; (2) Methods: An anonymous questionnaire among 190 paramedics working in various health care facilities in Poland (adjusted response rate, 76.3%); (3) Results: 78% of paramedics had contact with potentially infectious material at least several times a week. Paramedics’ knowledge on transferring infection was insufficient. Paramedics with longer employment time and better professional experience suffered fewer injuries with used needles/medical tools (p = 0.079). Most frequently reported factors that prevented the use of personal protective equipment were emergency situations (19.5%), skin irritations and contact allergies (19%) and, in the case of protective gloves, reduced manual dexterity (16%). In total, 82% of paramedics were concerned about the risk of being infected with HIV, HBV or HCV as a result of performing their job. In total, 97% of paramedics behaved more carefully while caring for infected patients. In total, 90% of the paramedics never refrained from performing the specific procedures necessary to help the patient whom they knew to be infected; (4) Conclusions: Despite the paramedics’ insufficient theoretical knowledge about the risk of blood-borne infections, the emphasis in the training of future paramedics should be on classes perfecting practical skills, because growing experience significantly reduces the risk of injury.

Occupational accidents with biological material among professionals in clinical laboratories in Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brazil.

Occupational accidents in health institutes can result in the transmission of human infectious diseases. Thecollection and processing of biological samples are risk factors for accidents involving clinical laboratory workers. Toidentify occupational accidents with biological material among healthcare workers in the clinical laboratories of Cajazeiras city, Paraíba, Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional and analytical study using a semi-structured questionnaire distributed to 38 workers at six clinical laboratories. Social-demographic data, types of occupational accidents, post-exposure procedures, biosafety practices, and emotional impact were analyzed. Workplace accidents were reported by 22 (57.9%) interviewees. Female gender (81.6%) was more prevalent in this study population. Nurse technicians and biochemists related the most frequent exposures. Accidents occurred mainly in the upper extremities (91%). The biological fluids related to the occupational accidents included blood (81.8%) and urine (45.5%). Thirty-three (86.8%) workers reported undergoing a post-exposure evaluation in the workplace. Fourteen (63.6%) participants underwent laboratory testing after biological material exposure. The data showed that occupational accidents in clinical laboratories are frequent among healthcare workers. We suggest new approaches for occupational accidents in the clinical laboratories to ameliorate the biosafety guidelines and working conditions of healthcare professionals.