Work incidents with biological material in the nursing team of a hospital in Mid-Western Brazil

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate and describe the occurrence and characteristics of Work Incidents (WI) with Potentially Contaminated Biological Material (PCBM), the frequency and variables related to this occurrence among nursing categories. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was performed at a referral hospital in the State of Mato Grosso, Mid-Western Brazil. Results: Women represented 90.5% of all participants and the mean age was 42.59 years. A total of 46.6% of professionals reported having undergone exposure to PCBM, 60.9% stated not having made a report, and 42.6% reported having participated in training courses on this subject. Comparing the occurrence of WI between nursing assistants and nurses, nursing assistants were more affected (p = 0.022). Conclusions: Among nursing professionals, the number of WI is high, recurrent and underreported. Continuing education on this theme is required to ensure the quality of care and promote workers' health.

Post-vaccination anti-HBs testing among healthcare workers: More economical than post-exposure management for Hepatitis B

“…The management of accidents with biological material among HCW is expensive in several countries, mainly in percutaneous exposures (14)(15)(16)(17)(18) . Although the performance of the anti-HBs test among these workers is a recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Labor through the Regulatory Norm (NR) 32/2005 (19)(20) and the CDC (10) , it is known that a considerable part of the vaccinated HCW ignore the serological status for the HBV (5,(21)(22)(23) . Ignoring this status at the time of the accident with a positive source-person requires a high-cost intervention with immunoglobulin, which would turn expensive the post-exposure handling related to the HBV (15) .…”

“…Infection by occupational exposure can occur during accidents with biological material among Health Care Workers (HCW), according to studies that show rates of 17.3% to 58.4% in Brazil (5)(6) and 36,7 % to 78,0% in other countries (7)(8)(9) .…”

Accidents with exposure to biological material treated at a hospital

“…A study was carried out 14 investigating the profile of those injured with biological material in notification sheets that occurred in the great Florianópolis that 73% of the occurrences were in females. It was also observed, in relation to the accident profile, by the same author that the predominance of the occurrence of the accidents was in individuals in the age group of 20 to 34 years (56%).…”

“…13 In order to prevent occupational accidents involving biological material, joint actions, established between workers and service management, should be included in order to improve working conditions, especially directed to the organization of work, the provision of materials with safety devices, to the establishment of educational programs, as well as to the sensitization with a view to the change of behavior between workers and managers, since isolated actions are considered ineffective to minimize these problems. 14 Adherence to the follow-up, regarding the exposures to biological materials by sexual means, by consent or not, has been a concern of the technical staff of some services in order to guarantee the clinical follow-up of the cases, the correct use of medications and the effectiveness of prophylaxis. This aspect emerges as the great challenge for later studies, and the reception of this patient at the time of first attendance, allowing a good relationship with the team, increased focus of attention, greater flexibility in scheduling and agile programs for the calling of absentees can lower these rates.…”

Acidentes de trabalho e o uso de equipamentos de proteção individuais pelos profissionais de saúde em um Hospital Terciário

“…2 Dentre os trabalhadores da saúde, aqueles que manuseiam agulhas, bisturis e aplicam as medicações ou realizam procedimentos invasivos são os que estão mais sujeitos aos acidentes com perfurocortantes, justamente por estarem expostos com mais regularidade a situações de risco. [3][4][5][6] Para a prevenção de tais riscos, faz-se necessário o entendimento dos acidentes, suas gêneses e estatísticas e a adoção de medidas de segurança, tais como o uso dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individuais (EPI) e dos Equipamentos de Proteção Coletivos. 7,8 A importância deste trabalho está em conhecer o processo de saúde e doença e os riscos do contato direto com material biológico e suas prevenções com foco na utilização dos EPI.…”