Occupational blood and body fluid exposure in an Australian teaching hospital

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.