[The health staff's exposure to biological materials in a Hospital in the Marches Region, Italy: epidemiological analysis (1995-2001)]

Abstract

The authors have analyzed some epidemiological events caused by the exposure to biological material amongst health workers at the Mazzoni Hospital in Ascoli Piceno (the Marches Region). According to a tailor-made questionnaire, 704 accidents occurred in the years 1995-2001. Data showed that nurses are the most frequently exposed (67%). As regards the premises, operating rooms account for 16.5 % of the accidents, ERs 9.2 % and Nephrology/Haemodialysis Units 8.8%. The highest rate of accidents occurred during injections procedures (67%) and precautions were observed only by 65% of the health care workers. The source patient was known in 86% of the cases and all workers were submitted to HBC, HCV and HIV tests. 95 subjects (16%) showed not less than one marker and 80% of them were HCV-positive. No anti-HIV/HCV/HBV seroconversions were registered.