Occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study of a registry in Colombia

Abstract

BackgroundOccupational exposure to blood borne pathogens caused by percutaneous injuries or mucosal contamination is frequent among Healthcare Workers (HCW).MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of HCW with an occupational exposure to blood reported to professional risk insurance agencies between 2009 and 2014 was performed. Comparisons between groups according to exposure level (mild, moderate, and severe) were evaluated.ResultsTwo thousand, four hundred three reports were classified according exposure as mild 2.7 %, moderate 74.8 %, severe 21.9 %. Factors related: health sciences student with mild exposure events [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 11.91, 95 % CI 5.13–27.61, p < 0.00001], and physician with moderate exposure events (AOR 1.90, 95 % CI 1.17–3.07, p = 0.009). Factors inversely related: physician with severe exposure events (AOR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.32–0.91, p = 0.02) and health sciences student with moderate exposure events (AOR 0.08, 95 % CI 0.04–0.15, p < 0.00001). It was found an important relationship between severe events with infectious diseases specialist assessment, and follow-up adherence. Additionally, a case of Human Immunodeficiency Virus seroconversion was presented (0.0004 %), no other seroconversions were observed.ConclusionsOccupational exposure events must be managed according to established protocols, but adherence failure was evident with the exception of severe exposure cases. Thus, interventions to enhance occupational safety are required. Occupation must be considered as a risk factor during initial assessment of events.

Acidente de trabalho com material biológico: fatores associados ao abandono do acompanhamento clínico-laboratorial

“…Nursing, dentistry and cleaning professionals presented the highest chance of interruption of follow-up, which is similar to a study conducted in Colombia (28) . Some authors mention that these health workers abandon follow-up due to lack of knowledge about biological risk (8)(9)10) .…”

“…were 77.98 more likely to abandon when compared to those who suffered lumen needle injury. Accidents involving devices used in blood vessels are usually recognized by the health workers as a factor that increases the possibility of seroconversion, which contributes to adherence to clinical and laboratory follow-up; not so with exposures involving other devices which have not had contact with blood (5,9,28) .…”

Availability of secondary healthcare data for conducting pharmacoepidemiology studies in Colombia: A systematic review

“…Among these, 351 articles were excluded after title screening and the abstract of the 784 remaining papers was assessed. Finally, 461 publications were excluded following the eligibility criteria and thus, 323 articles that had interpretable data and fulfilled the eligibility criteria were used for data extraction…”

“…In addition to the oncology databases, there were registries identified in diseases including heart failure (RECODEC 290,291 and ROCI 308 registries), trauma, 180,183,184,208,309 infectious diseases (GREBO 90,311,312 healthcare workers occupational exposure registry 192 ), and glomerulonephritis (Nefrored 174,177,188 ), among others 37,146,185,187,192,220,238,255,264 …”

Descriptive review of junior OB/GYN physicians’ work task financial compensation in German hospitals

“…Out of the variety of over ten different pay scales in Germany, five pay scales were chosen which consist of one rate which was paid eight years ago to physicians in their second residential year after having finished the medical exams (Arzt im Praktikum) [30] and four current rates for physicians in the second year after the final medical exams (Table 2). They consist of two governmental (TVöD paid to federally employed physicians and TV-Ärzte (TdL) paid by physicians employed by single German states [31], a rate paid by a private hospital company (Helios) [32] and a rate paid by municipal hospitals (TV-Ärzte (VKA)) [33]). The single salary scale values were then used to calculate the average costs for single tasks per day, per month and per year.…”