Occupational accidents involving exposure to biological material reported at a worker’s health sentinel unit: 11,645 cases

Abstract

Introduction Health professionals are exposed to various occupational biological, chemical, physical, and ergonomic risks, in addition to the risk of accidents. Understanding occupational accidents involving biological material in a specific area could be an initial step towards prioritizing correct working conditions. Objectives To determine the profile of occupational accidents involving exposure to biological material based on data from a sentinel unit in Curitiba, Brazil. Methods This observational, retrospective, descriptive study with quantitative methods collected disease notification system data from 2008-2018. Results During the study period, 11,645 cases of occupational accidents involving biological material were reported. Most victims were women (80.4%) and nursing technicians (30.9%). The highest number of accidents involved material found on the floor (11.1%). Regarding personal protective equipment, 69% of the victims used procedure gloves. The years with the most reported accidents were 2016 and 2018. Treatment abandonment was high (56%). Conclusions The number of accidents involving biological material was high, as was that of victims who abandoned serological follow-up. Prevention and awareness strategies are necessary to change this scenario.