Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South Korea
Abstract Background Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk for occupational blood exposures (OBEs) and transmission of bloodborne pathogens. This study elucidated the incidence rate and epidemiological characteristics of OBEs among HCWs and investigated the pathogen transmission rate for hepati...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4844-0 |
| _version_ | 1818109775504736256 |
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| author | Ju Hyun Lee Junhyeon Cho Yung Jung Kim Sang Hyuk Im Eun Sun Jang Jin-Wook Kim Hong Bin Kim Sook-Hyang Jeong |
| author_facet | Ju Hyun Lee Junhyeon Cho Yung Jung Kim Sang Hyuk Im Eun Sun Jang Jin-Wook Kim Hong Bin Kim Sook-Hyang Jeong |
| author_sort | Ju Hyun Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk for occupational blood exposures (OBEs) and transmission of bloodborne pathogens. This study elucidated the incidence rate and epidemiological characteristics of OBEs among HCWs and investigated the pathogen transmission rate for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods Self-reported OBEs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 were obtained from the electronic recording system. OBE incidence densities per 100 person-years and per 100 bed-years were calculated with a 5-year trend analysis. OBE characteristics and pathogen transmission rates were evaluated. Results Among 10,452 HCWs and 1072 average yearly beds, 1076 OBEs were reported. OBE incidence rate was 5.6 cases per 100 person (full-time equivalent)-years and 20.3 per 100 bed-years. Incidence rate decreased and was significantly associated with a decrease of beds served per HCW. Housekeeping showed the highest OBE rate (14.8%) followed by doctors (8.5%) and nurses (6.2%). OBEs occurred in wards, emergency rooms, and operating rooms (38.1%, 13.3% and 12.2%, respectively) via percutaneous (86.7%) and mucocutaneous exposures (13.2%). Of OBEs associated with HBV (n = 133), HCV (n = 126), and HIV (n = 25), only one led to an infection (HCV; transmission rate of 0.8%). Neither HBV nor HIV infection occurred. Conclusions OBE incidence rate in a Korean university hospital was 5.6 cases per 100 person-years and 20.3 per 100 bed-years and was related to HCW workload and work proficiency. Though the actual bloodborne pathogen transmission rate was low, efforts to prevent OBE should be made for hospital safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:36:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-261780fbd30c4d9cb4c094e99a43a61a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:36:37Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-261780fbd30c4d9cb4c094e99a43a61a2022-12-22T01:23:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582017-10-011711810.1186/s12889-017-4844-0Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South KoreaJu Hyun Lee0Junhyeon Cho1Yung Jung Kim2Sang Hyuk Im3Eun Sun Jang4Jin-Wook Kim5Hong Bin Kim6Sook-Hyang Jeong7Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityOccupation Safety and Health Office, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityAbstract Background Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk for occupational blood exposures (OBEs) and transmission of bloodborne pathogens. This study elucidated the incidence rate and epidemiological characteristics of OBEs among HCWs and investigated the pathogen transmission rate for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods Self-reported OBEs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 were obtained from the electronic recording system. OBE incidence densities per 100 person-years and per 100 bed-years were calculated with a 5-year trend analysis. OBE characteristics and pathogen transmission rates were evaluated. Results Among 10,452 HCWs and 1072 average yearly beds, 1076 OBEs were reported. OBE incidence rate was 5.6 cases per 100 person (full-time equivalent)-years and 20.3 per 100 bed-years. Incidence rate decreased and was significantly associated with a decrease of beds served per HCW. Housekeeping showed the highest OBE rate (14.8%) followed by doctors (8.5%) and nurses (6.2%). OBEs occurred in wards, emergency rooms, and operating rooms (38.1%, 13.3% and 12.2%, respectively) via percutaneous (86.7%) and mucocutaneous exposures (13.2%). Of OBEs associated with HBV (n = 133), HCV (n = 126), and HIV (n = 25), only one led to an infection (HCV; transmission rate of 0.8%). Neither HBV nor HIV infection occurred. Conclusions OBE incidence rate in a Korean university hospital was 5.6 cases per 100 person-years and 20.3 per 100 bed-years and was related to HCW workload and work proficiency. Though the actual bloodborne pathogen transmission rate was low, efforts to prevent OBE should be made for hospital safety.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4844-0Healthcare workersNeedlestick injuryOccupational blood exposureHepatitis C virusHepatitis B virusHuman immunodeficiency virus |
| spellingShingle | Ju Hyun Lee Junhyeon Cho Yung Jung Kim Sang Hyuk Im Eun Sun Jang Jin-Wook Kim Hong Bin Kim Sook-Hyang Jeong Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South Korea BMC Public Health Healthcare workers Needlestick injury Occupational blood exposure Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis B virus Human immunodeficiency virus |
| title | Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South Korea |
| title_full | Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South Korea |
| title_fullStr | Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South Korea |
| title_short | Occupational blood exposures in health care workers: incidence, characteristics, and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in South Korea |
| title_sort | occupational blood exposures in health care workers incidence characteristics and transmission of bloodborne pathogens in south korea |
| topic | Healthcare workers Needlestick injury Occupational blood exposure Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis B virus Human immunodeficiency virus |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4844-0 |
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