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Abstract
Objective: Healthcare workers are in the high risk group in terms of blood-borne infections due to occupational exposure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the injuries related to blood and body fluids and examine the measures taken against them in Konya Application and Research Center of Başkent University during ten years.
Methods: The 202 injuries related to blood and body fluids in our hospital in ten years between 2003 and 2013 were retrospectively evaluated.
Results: It was found out that 52.5% of healthcare workers (HCWs) had used gloves, 6.9% had worn lab coats, 3.9 worn masks, and 2.4% worn goggles. The source was known in 88 out of 202 HCWs: 47 were injured with HBsAg-positive source, 40 were exposed to HCV-positive source, and 1 staff had an injury by an HBsAg- and anti-HCV positive source. Seven of them who were anti-HBs-negative and injured with HBsAg-positive source were vaccinated against hepatitis B and given hepatitis B immune globulin. Seroconversion was observed in none of the HCWs.
Conclusions: HCWs should be educated about the risk of occupational exposures, preventive measures and proper post-exposure follow-up. In addition, they should go through a preemployment screening for blood-borne pathogens and be vaccinated against HBV.