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. 2006 Jun;134(3):465-71.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268805005212. Epub 2005 Sep 30.

Occupational blood and body fluid exposure in an Australian teaching hospital

P Bi  1 , P J Tully, S Pearce, J E Hiller
Affiliations

Occupational blood and body fluid exposure in an Australian teaching hospital

P Bi et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Jun.

Abstract

To examine work-related blood and body fluid exposure (BBFE) among health-care workers (HCWs), to explore potential risk factors and to provide policy suggestions, a 6-year retrospective study of all reported BBFE among HCWs (1998-2003) was conducted in a 430-bed teaching hospital in Australia. Results showed that BBFE reporting was consistent throughout the study period, with medical staff experiencing the highest rate of sharps injury (10.4%). Hollow-bore needles were implicated in 51.7% of all percutaneous injuries. Most incidents occurred during sharps use (40.4%) or after use but before disposal (27.1%). Nursing staff experienced 68.5% of reported mucocutaneous exposure. Many such exposures occurred in the absence of any protective attire (61.1%). This study indicated that emphasis on work practice, attire, disposal systems and education strategies, as well as the use of safety sharps should be employed to reduce work-related injuries among HCWs in Australia.

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