Occupational exposure of health care workers to bloodborne pathogens. A proposal for a systematic intervention approach

Abstract

1. Each year approximately 6,500 to 9,000 health care workers in the United States are exposed to infectious body fluids while on the job. The majority of the resultant clinical infections causing morbidity and mortality are attributable to bloodborne pathogens. 2. The relatively simple approach of educating workers so they comply with exposure control systems has continued to be employed by many infection control and employee health specialists, despite the temporary and/or negligible effects demonstrated from high risk health care employees. 3. The reduction of worksite transmission of bloodborne pathogens through the increased use of system wide and worksite engineering techniques has been advocated by experts, demanding increased consideration from health care planners and researchers.