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Occupational Medicine Advance Access published online on January 2, 2009
Occupational Medicine, doi:10.1093/occmed/kqn167
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Accidental blood and body fluid exposure among doctors

Seyed Hamid Reza Naghavi1 and Kaveh A. Sanati2

1 Department of Occupational Health, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
2 Department of Occupational Health, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK

Aim To study the epidemiology and time trends of blood and body fluids (BBF) exposures among hospital doctors.

Methods A 3-year study was carried out using data from the Exposure Prevention Information Network of four teaching hospitals in the UK.

Results One hundred and seventy-five cases of BBF exposures in doctors were reported over the 3-year study period. Eighty-one (46%) occurred in senior doctors and 94 (54%) in junior doctors. Junior doctors had a higher rate of BBF exposures compared to senior doctors: 13 versus 4 incidents per 100 person-years, respectively (relative risk 3, 95% confidence interval 2–4). The most frequent setting for BBF exposures among senior doctors was the operating theatre/recovery (59%). Among junior doctors, it was the patient room (48%). The commonest original reason for use of sharps by junior doctors was the taking of blood samples (42%). Among senior doctors, it was suturing (41%).

Conclusion While ongoing training efforts need to be directed towards both junior and senior doctors, our data suggest that junior doctors are at higher risk of BBF exposures and may need particular attention in prevention strategies. An improvement in the safety culture in teaching hospitals can be expected to reduce the number of BBF exposures.

Keywords      Blood and body fluid exposure; doctor; needlestick; splash

Correspondence to: Seyed Hamid Reza Naghavi, Department of Occupational Health, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK. Tel: +44 20 8383 1514; fax: +44 20 8383 3395; e-mail: hamidreza_naghavi{at}yahoo.com


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