Laboratory Safety: Laboratory Professionals' Compliance With Universal Precautions (original) (raw)
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Le infezioni in medicina, 2020
Bloodborne pathogens represent a major hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs) and exposure prevention still represents the primary strategy to reduce the risk of occupational bloodborne pathogen infections, such as hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Each healthcare organization should have simple and easy-to-apply operating procedures (OPs), quickly accessible to their personnel, including educational programmes, written protocols for prompt reporting and procedures for correct evaluation, counselling, treatment and follow-up of occupational exposure. From a careful review of literature data and international recommendations, in this study we summarize the recommendations to follow in the event of occupational exposure to HIV, HBV and HCV, also providing tables and a flowchart, that are simple to apply and could be a guide, especially in moments of apprehension caused by the occurrence of an occupational accident due to biohazard, in whi...
International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 2020
Background: Biological hazards and health safety issues are a special concern in laboratory technicians who handle blood, body fluids, and tissues which may contain infectious agents. Lack of knowledge of standard precautions has been noted to influence the practice and behaviour change in relation to these precautions requires knowledge. This study therefore aims to study the awareness and practice of universal precautions (U.P) in lab technicians.Methods: Cross sectional type of study was conducted in the tertiary health care facility (Osmania General Hospital) in Hyderabad district among laboratory technicians of various departments from 1-20/11/18. Random sampling was done and data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire.Statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft excel 07. Descriptive analysis was done and Chi-square tests were used for establishing association.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 32.37 years, all of them were graduates by educatio...
Quality and Safety in Health Care, 1993
Objectives-To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of risk of occupational HIV transmission in hospital in relation to existing guidelines. Design-Cross sectional anonymous questionnaire survey of all occupational groups. portive and caring hospital environment for people with HIV. Implications-Managers need to disseminate policy guidelines and information to all staff on an ongoing basis.
Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate risk of Needle stick and Sharp Injuries (NSI) and exposure to blood borne pathogens, among laboratory technicians. Methods: 213 self-reporting questionnaires were distributed among the laboratory technicians who were working at three educational hospitals in Tehran. A total of 193 laboratory personnel completed the questionnaire. Results: 69.9% of participants were females. 94 (43.5%) of participants had a history of needle stick injury and 70 (36.3%) had splash injury during their work life. The prevalence of one year (last year) exposure was 25.4% and 17.1% respectively. In 58 out of 94 cases, recapping was the mechanism of injury. 151 laboratory personnel (78.2%) had been immunized against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). 79.8% of the laboratory personnel usually eat, drink or smoke at workplace. 175 (91%) of the study sample used personal protective equipment such as glove in laboratory environment. Conclusion: In this study, a high frequency of NSI and splash were observed among laboratory technicians in the research context, which was not related to some variables such as age, sex, duration of employment, the HBV vaccination status, participating in workshop of education and training for injury prevention.
Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2012
To determine the population at risk, risk factors, and outcome of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in health care providers. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of two and half year data of ongoing surveillance of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in a tertiary care hospital. Results: 103 Health Care Providers (HCP) reported an occupational exposure to blood and body fluids during the period under review. These comprised 72 (69.9%) doctors, 20 (19.4%) nursing personnel, and 11 (10.6%) cleaning staff. Of the doctors, 65% were interns. 53.4% HCP had work experience of less than one year. Circumstances of exposure included clinical procedures (48%), sweeping/handling used sharps (29%), recapping (16%), and surgery (6.9%). 74.3% of the exposures were due to non-compliance with universal precautions and were thus preventable. The device most frequently implicated in causing injury was hollow bore needle (n=85, 82.5%). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status of the source was positive in 6.8% cases, negative in 53.4% cases, and unknown in remaining 39.8% cases. Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) was indicated in 100 (97.08%) cases and was initiated within 2 h of exposure in 26.8% HCP. In 23.2% HCP, PEP initiation was delayed beyond 72 h of exposure due to late reporting. Thirteen HCP received expanded and the remaining received basic regime. Of the 82 HCP followed up, 15 completed the full course, while 55 stopped PEP after the first dose due to negative source status. Twelve HCP with exposure to blood of unknown HIV status discontinued PEP despite counseling. Complete follow-up for seroconversion was very poor among the HCP. HIV status at 6 month of exposure is not known for any HCP. Conclusions: Failure to follow universal precautions including improper disposal of waste was responsible for majority of occupational exposures. HCP need to be sensitized regarding hospital waste management, management of occupational exposure, need for PEP, and continued follow-up.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2005
This report updates U.S. Public Health Service recommendations for the management of health-care personnel (HCP) who have occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids that might contain human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although the principles of exposure management remain unchanged, recommended HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimens have been changed. This report emphasizes adherence to HIV PEP when it is indicated for an exposure, expert consultation in management of exposures, follow-up of exposed workers to improve adherence to PEP, and monitoring for adverse events, including seroconversion. To ensure timely postexposure management and administration of HIV PEP, clinicians should consider occupational exposures as urgent medical concerns. Definition of Health-Care Personnel and Exposure The definitions of health-care personnel (HCP) and occupational exposures are unchanged from those used in 2001 (3). The term HCP refers to all paid and unpaid persons working in health-care settings who have the potential for exposure to infectious materials (e.g., blood, tissue, and specific body fluids and medical supplies, equipment, or environmental surfaces contaminated with these substances). HCP might include, but are not limited to, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, pharmacists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health-care facility, and persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to blood and body fluids (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, and volunteer personnel). The same principles of exposure management could be applied to other workers who have potential for occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in other settings. An exposure that might place HCP at risk for HIV infection is defined as a percutaneous injury (e.g., a needlestick or cut with a sharp object) or contact of mucous
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 2012
Background: Medical wastes unlike other waste products constitute a serious health hazard to its handlers, patients and the community at large. Objective: This study assessed the level of awareness of hospital cleaners on occupational hazards, safety measures and post exposure prophylaxis to HIV in 10 hospitals in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on ninety hospital cleaners working in ten public and privately owned hospitals in Abakaliki. Semi-structured questionnaires were used for data collection and data analysis was done with SPSS version 19. Results: This showed that out of 90 respondents sampled, 68 questionnaires were available for analysis. This gave a response rate of 75.6%. It was observed that knowledge of occupational hazards was fairly high (82.4%) among the participants; this was due to training on hospital waste management and experience from the Job. Safety measures to mitigate occupational hazard was inconsistently and incorrectly used by the respondents. A fairly significant proportion of participants were aware of their HIV (72.1%), Hepatitis B (47.1%) and C viruses (48.5%) status. Only half (50%) were immunized for Hepatitis B virus and as well as had knowledge of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Conclusion: Occupational exposure of health care providers to hazardous hospital waste is a significant public health problem. Therefore, healthcare managers and policy makers should institute astute measures to improve the knowledge of occupational hazards, as well as provide personal protective device to hospital waste handlers. Post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV should be domiciled in healthcare centre for the benefit of exposed individuals.
PubMed, 2019
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are constantly vulnerable to occupational blood and body fluid exposures (OBBFEs). Exposed HCWs experience emotional, physical and psychological trauma. Less experienced HCWs, such as intern doctors, are more prone to OBBFEs. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and practices pertaining to OBBFEs amongst a select group of intern doctors in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study using a questionnaire based on a practical model was used. Intern doctors were recruited from four major hospitals in Gauteng. Results: A total of 175 intern doctors participated in the study. There was a total of 182 (mean = 1.04, standard deviation [s.d] 0.88) reported OBBFEs amongst 136 (77.7%) subjects. The exposures occurred predominantly whilst subjects were working in surgery (n = 50, 27.5%), obstetrics and gynaecology (n = 49, 26.9%) and internal medicine (n = 48, 26.4%) departments; were superficial wounds (n = 69, 37.9%); were acquired during vascular puncture or intravenous line insertion (n = 69, 37.9%); and occurred when subjects were working >12 h shifts (n = 101, 55.5%). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was initiated in 141 (77.5%) out of the 182 exposures. Only 90 (63.8%) subjects completed the recommended 28-day course of PEP. Two (1.1%) subjects reported that they had acquired HIV infection as a consequence of the OBBFE. Conclusion: Occupational blood and body fluid exposures are common amongst intern doctors. It is recommended that regular training, health education and monitoring compliance should be incorporated during the induction of medical intern doctors in hospitals. The availability of PEP regimens with better tolerability will encourage compliance.