Determinants of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids, healthcare workers' risk perceptions and standard precautionary practices: a hospital-based study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Background: The risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne infections is on the rise in hospital settings. The situation is worse in developing countries for a variety of reasons, such as poor working condition, excessive injection use, and poor adherence towards universal precautions. This study was undertaken to assess the determining factors of occupational exposures to blood-borne infections, as well as to describe healthcare workers' risk perceptions and standard precautionary practices in selected hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to January 2017. A total of 323 healthcare workers from four public hospitals were selected for the study using a simple random-sampling technique. Structured questions administered by an interviewer were used to collect data. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify the determining factors. Results: Healthcare workers' lifetime and one-year prevalence of needlestick injuries were 39.0% (95% CI: 33.6-44.8) and 19.9% (95% CI: 15.2-24.5), respectively. The lifetime and one-year prevalence of blood and body fluid exposures were 42.6% (95% CI: 36.8-48.4) and 29.2% (95% CI: 23.8-34.7), respectively. Almost three out of five healthcare workers, 62.8% (95% CI: 57.0-68.9) had adequate risk perception, and 41.2% (95% CI: 35.4-46.9) adopted good standards of precautionary practice. Service year (AOR: 2.40; 95% CI:1.00-5.77) and having poor standards of precautionary practice (AOR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.18-4.46) were the determinants of needlestick injuries. Conclusions: The high prevalence of occupational exposure and healthcare workers' sub-optimal practice of taking standard precautions seemed to be common. Long-term and in-service, focused, short-term training were found to be helpful in increasing awareness of the risks and reducing exposure to them

Testing for Drugs of Abuse: Part 1

Drugs of abuse are commonly encountered in the workplace and the occupational health specialist is often asked to perform and interpret tests to check for the presence of such substances. A clear understanding regarding the limitations of testing is required for this purpose as this field has many potential pitfalls. This is the first of two articles that provide a broad overview of the commonly encountered drugs of abuse (DOA); the biological samples that can be used; possible interferants and adulterants that may be encountered; and the role of the laboratory and pathologist. The second article in this series examines the technology involved; looking briefly at immunoassays and mass spectrometry; and issues regarding cut-points and interpretations

Accidents d'exposition au sang chez les professionnels de sante a l'Hopital Biamba Marie Mutombo

Contexte : Les accidents d'exposition au sang (AES) constituent un des risques les plus importants auxquels font face les professionnels de sante. Lors d'un AES; bien que de nombreux pathogenes puissent etre transmis; les virus induisant un portage chronique en cas de contamination dominent le risque; et justifient a eux seuls; les mesures de prevention et de prophylaxie post-exposition. Il s'agit du VIH; des Virus des hepatites B et C. Cependant; l'ampleur reelle du probleme n'est pas connue dans notre pays; la Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC). Objectif : Evaluer la frequence des AES chez les professionnels de sante de l'Hopital Biamba Marie Mutombo; en decrire les caracteristiques et determiner les categories professionnelles les plus concernees. Methode : Une enquete transversale a ete menee au mois d'Aout 2009 et reprenant les AES survenus au cours des 12 derniers mois a l'HOPITAL BIAMBA MARIE MUTOMBO de Kinshasa. Une fiche d'enquete a ete utilisee; sollicitant les informations generales sur le professionnel ainsi que les accidents de blessures et la projection du sang ou d'un autre liquide biologique survenus a l'hopital au cours de l'annee derniere. Resultats : Parmi les 219 professionnels enquetes; seuls 24des participants etaient informes sur les risques encourus par l'exposition aux pathogenes sanguins. 40ont declare avoir eu au moins une blessure accidentelle et 16une eclaboussure d'un liquide biologique au cours de l'annee derniere. Les Infirmiers ont reporte le plus grand nombre d'accidents (piqures et projections de liquides biologiques). Les AES ont ete plus dus aux aiguilles avant l`acte professionnel. Conclusion : Pres de 50des AES pouvaient etre evites par des mesures simples; malheureusement pas toujours connues des professionnels de sante

Les accidents d'exposition aux liquides biologiques

Malgre de nombreuses formations fournies au personnel d'entretien; les accidents d'exposion au sang sont encore frequent dans les formations sanitaires.Un petit rappel des risques et des mesures de prophylaxie pourrait permettre d'ameliorer la situation