• R M Blázquez, S Moreno, A Menasalvas, C Guerrero, A Novoa, and M Segovia.
• Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital J.M. Morales Meseguer, Murcia. rblazquezg@medynet.com
• Enferm. Infecc. Microbiol. Clin. 2001 Apr 1;19(4):156-60.

ObjectiveTo determine the rate of occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens in different occupations of health care workers. To analyze the characteristics and outcome of the occupational exposure.Material And MethodsWe have evaluate occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens reported by health care workers during 1996-1999. The following data were collected: characteristics of the workers, type of occupational exposure, immunity status of the exposed worker, infectivity of the source patient and follow up serologic testing of the worker.ResultsA total of 407 occupational exposures were reported. The highest rate of occupational exposure was found among nurses (61.6%). Needlestick accident was the most often occupational exposure reported (84.5%). Mucosal exposures with accidental splashes were reported in 15.2% of cases. In 14.5% of these accidents workers were at risk for occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens. Among the different occupations of health care workers, the rate of exposures with a source infected patient was higher in medical staffs (28.3%) than nurses (13.9%) The rate of exposures with a source infected patient was higher in accidental splashes than in percutaneous exposures (33.8% vs 13.3%), besides in none of the accidental splashes, employees had used appropriate barrier precautions. There were no cases of transmission of occupational blood-borne infections.ConclusionsAlthough nurses are the health care workers with highest rates of occupational exposures, medical staffs are the most often occupationally exposed to a source infected patient. Universal barrier precautions are no appropriately used in most of the occupational accidents, specially in those involving mucosal exposures.

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