Biological Hazards for Healthcare Workers: Occupational Exposure to Vancomycin-Resistant <b><i>Staphylococcus aureus</i></b> as an Example of a New Challenge

Abstract

Infections are among the most important occupational risks for healthcare workers. Some infections can be prevented through vaccination but, in other cases, there are no vaccines to prevent them, as happens with infections from antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Precautions related with transmission route and contact isolation or respiratory isolation are very important in order to protect healthcare workers and other patients. In this paper, the authors reviewed biological hazards for healthcare workers and described the procedures undertaken by an occupational health department (OHD) of a Portuguese hospital where vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) was isolated from a patient, for the first time in Europe. After the VRSA strain isolation, healthcare workers were instructed to adopt contact preventive measures. Nasal swabs were cultured weekly in 33 healthcare workers for several weeks until the patients' culture changed to negative. In the meantime, OHD prepared actions to adopt in case of VRSA colonization or infection in healthcare workers.

Protection of Healthcare Workers’ Rights by Trade Unions and Biological Hazards in Ukraine

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Facing the challenges of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii : progress and prospects in the vaccine development

“…Although most healthy people may not develop symptoms from A. baumannii infection, they could transmit the bacteria to cause serious health problems to the vulnerable population or they become pre-disposed following tissue injuries. 123 , 124 …”

Occupational Health and Safety of Health Care Professionals During Pandemic COVID-19

“…Nearly 5.6 million healthcare workers are vulnerable to the exposure with disease and injury related to occupation 22 . The occupational disease or injury can be spread among healthcare workers through five routes, such as blood borne (HIV, Hepatitis B and C), droplet (Influenza), airborne (Chickenpox and Tuberculosis), fecal-oral (Rotavirus) and contact route (Scabies, Herpes simplex virus 1 or 2) 23 . More than 890 healthcare workers were infected during the outbreak of Ebola virus among the general public from 2013-2016 [24][25] .…”