Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-wq2xx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T20:32:12.686Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Occupational Risk of Blood-Borne Viruses in Healthcare Workers: A 5-Year Surveillance Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Vincenzo Baldo ,
Annarosa Floreani ,
Luigino Dal Vecchio ,
Marco Cristofoletti ,
Maristella Carletti ,
Silvia Majori ,
Angela Di Tommaso  and
Renzo Trivello
Vincenzo Baldo
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Italy
Annarosa Floreani*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Italy
Luigino Dal Vecchio
Affiliation:
Local Health Unit no. 13, Veneto region, Institute of Hygiene, University of Verona, Italy
Marco Cristofoletti
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Italy
Maristella Carletti
Affiliation:
Local Health Unit no. 13, Veneto region, Institute of Hygiene, University of Verona, Italy
Silvia Majori
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene, University of Verona, Italy
Angela Di Tommaso
Affiliation:
Local Health Unit no. 13, Veneto region, Institute of Hygiene, University of Verona, Italy
Renzo Trivello
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua, Italy
*
Div. Gastroenterologia, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

This study presents the results of a 5-year surveillance program involving the prospective follow-up of health-care workers (HCWs) in the Veneto region of Italy exposed to blood-borne viruses.

Design:

All HCWs who reported an occupational exposure to blood-borne infection joined the surveillance program. Both HCWs and patients were tested for viral markers (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen [anti-HBs], antibody to hepatitis B core antigen [anti-HBc], antibody to hepatitis C virus [anti-HCV], HCV RNA, and antibody to human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]) and had these markers plus transaminases assayed at 3, 6, and 12 months and then yearly thereafter. Moreover, a program of hepatitis B virus (HBV) prophylaxis was offered to those whose anti-HBs levels were less than 10 IU/mL.

Participants:

Two hundred forty-five HCWs (156 women and 89 men) with a mean age of 37 (± 10) years who reported occupational exposure during the 5-year period.

Results:

At the time of exposure, 1HCW was positive for HBsAg (0.4%) and 2 were positive for HCV RNA (0.8%). Among the patients involved, 28 (11.4%) were positive for HBsAg, 68 (27.8%) were positive for HCV RNA, 6 (2.4%) were positive for HIV, and 147 (60.0%) were negative for all viral markers (4 patients were positive for both HCV and HIV). During the follow-up period after exposure (mean, 2.7 [± 1.6] years), there was no increase in transaminases or seroconversions to any of the viral markers.

Conclusion:

Our accurate postexposure follow-up revealed a lack of transmission of HBV, HCV, and HIV.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 23 , Issue 6 , June 2002 , pp. 325 - 327
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Gerberding, JL. Management of occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses. N Engl J Med 1995;332:444–451.Google Scholar
2.Kiyosawa, K, Sodeyama, T, Tanaka, E, et al. Hepatitis C in hospital employees with needlestick injuries. Ann Intern Med 1991;115:367–369.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Hernandez, ME, Bruguera, M, Puyuelo, T, et al. Risk of needle-stick injuries in the transmission of hepatitis C virus in hospital personnel. J Hepatol 1992;16:56–58.Google Scholar
4.Mitsui, T, Iwano, K, Masuko, K, et al. Hepatitis C virus infection in medical personnel after needlestick accident. Hepatology 1992;16:1109–1114.Google Scholar
5.Puro, V, Petrosillo, N, Ippolito, G, Aloisi, MS, Boumis, E, Rava, L. Occupational hepatitis C virus infection in Italian health care workers. Am J Public Health 1995;85:1272–1275.Google Scholar
6.Hamid, SS, Farooqui, B, Rizvi, Q, Sultana, T, Siddiqui, AA. Risk of transmission and features of hepatitis C after needlestick injuries. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:63–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Goob, TC, Yamada, SM, Newman, RE, Cashman, TM. Bloodborne exposures at a United States Army Medical Center. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1999;14:20–25.Google Scholar
8.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis. MMWR 2001;50(RR-11):1–67.Google Scholar
9.Bell, DM. Occupational risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection in healthcare workers: an overview. Am H Med 1997;102:9–15.Google Scholar
10.Kelen, GD, Green, GB, Purcell, RH, et al. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C in emergency department patients. N Engl J Med 1992;32:1399–1404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Louie, M, Low, DE, Feinman, SV, McLaughlin, B, Simor, AE. Prevalence of bloodborne infective agents among people admitted to a Canadian hospital. CMAJ. 1992;146:1331–1334.Google ScholarPubMed
12.Beltrami, EM, Williams, IT, Shapiro, CN, Chamberland, ME. Risk and management of blood-borne infections in health care workers. Clin Microbiol Rev 2000;13:385–407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed