Occupational exposures among healthcare workers: A teaching hospital sample

Objective: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk for occupational injury associated with contaminated blood and body fluids. This study aims to examine the frequency and type of occupational injuries and to determine best practices after exposure. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital in December 2010. The questionnaires were completed by healthcare workers with face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire was evaluated occupational injuries in the hospital practice. Results: In total, 300of 350 healthcare practitioners (85.7%) answered the questions; 125 (41.6%) of them were nurses, 96 (32.0%) were physicians, 36 (12.0%) were cleaning staff, 23 (7.6%) were student nurses, and 20 (6.6%) were laboratory technicians. The number of HCWs who contact with blood and body fluids was 175 (58.3%). Forty-five HCWs (15.0%) have had injuries in the past year. The physicians had significantly lower injury rates (p=0.004), while nurses had significantly higher (p<0.001) injury rates. Needle-stick injuries resulting in transmission of contaminated blood and body fluids occurred in 144 (82.2%) HCWs. Among 175 injured HCWs, 54 (30.8%) reported their injuries at the time of injury. Twenty-seven nurses (%50) (p=0.882), nine doctors (16.6%) (p=0.126), eight cleaning staff (14.8%) (p=0.448), seven laboratory technicians (12.9%) (p=0.162), and three student nurses (5.5%) (p=0.831) had reported their injuries. Conclusion: Taking standard precautions against contact with contaminated blood and body fluid samples, reporting injuries, and not neglecting post-exposure prophylaxis may reduce risk of occupational exposure in HCWs.