Postexposure management of occupational injuries amongst health care workers

Occupational exposure comprises of needle stick injury (NSI) and mucosal splashes. A health care worker (HCW) is at a greater risk of developing blood borne virus infection while at work. Due to high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus in dev...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Divya Deodhar, Jency Maria Koshy, Mary John
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
Series:CHRISMED Journal of Health and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cjhr.org/article.asp?issn=2348-3334;year=2016;volume=3;issue=3;spage=151;epage=154;aulast=Deodhar
Description
Summary:Occupational exposure comprises of needle stick injury (NSI) and mucosal splashes. A health care worker (HCW) is at a greater risk of developing blood borne virus infection while at work. Due to high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus in developing countries, there is a higher risk of infection after occupational exposure to HCW. Factors such as sub-optimal infection control practices and lack of equipment, increases the risk of acquiring NSIs. Reporting of each episode of occupational exposure should be mandatory in institutions. Postexposure management policies should be included among the institutional policies.
ISSN:2348-3334
2348-506X