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Surveillance of Occupational Blood and Body Fluid Exposures Among French Healthcare Workers in 2004

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

A. G. Venier ,
A. Vincent ,
F. L'Hériteau ,
N. Floret ,
H. Sénéchal ,
D. Abiteboul ,
E. Reyreaud ,
B. Coignard  and
P. Parneix
A. G. Venier
Affiliation:
Southwestern France Infection Control Coordinating Center, Bordeaux, Paris, France
A. Vincent
Affiliation:
Southeastern France Infection Control Coordinating Center, Lyon, Paris, France
F. L'Hériteau
Affiliation:
Paris—Northern France Infection Control Coordinating Center, Paris, France
N. Floret
Affiliation:
Reseau Franc-Comtois de Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales, Besancon, France
H. Sénéchal
Affiliation:
Western France Infection Control Coordinating Center, Rennes, France
D. Abiteboul
Affiliation:
Groupe d'Etude des Risques d'Exposition des Soignants aux Agents Infectieux, Paris, France
E. Reyreaud
Affiliation:
Southwestern France Infection Control Coordinating Center, Bordeaux, Paris, France
B. Coignard
Affiliation:
Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, Paris, France
P. Parneix*
Affiliation:
Southwestern France Infection Control Coordinating Center, Bordeaux, Paris, France
*
Southwestern France Infection Control Coordinating Center (CCLIN Sud-Ouest), CHU Pellegrin, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France ([email protected])
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Abstract

Objective.

To estimate the incidence rate of reported occupational blood and body fluid exposures among French healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design.

Prospective national follow-up of HCWs from January 1 to December 31, 2004.

Setting.

University hospitals, hospitals, clinics, local medical centers, and specialized psychiatric centers were included in the study on a voluntary basis.

Participants.

At participating medical centers, every reported blood and body fluid exposure was documented by the occupational practitioner in charge of the exposed HCW by use of an anonymous, standardized questionnaire.

Results.

A total of 375 medical centers (15% of French medical centers, accounting for 29% of hospital beds) reported 13,041 blood and body fluid exposures; of these, 9,396 (72.0%) were needlestick injuries. Blood and body fluid exposures were avoidable in 39.1% of cases (5,091 of 13,020), and 52.2% of percutaneous injuries (4,986 of 9,552) were avoidable (5.9% due to needle recapping). Of 10,656 percutaneous injuries, 22.6% occurred during an injection, 17.9% during blood sampling, and 16.6% during surgery. Of 2,065 splashes, 22.6% occurred during nursing activities, 19.1% during surgery, 14.1% during placement or removal of an intravenous line, and 12.0% during manipulation of a tracheotomy tube. The incidence rates of exposures were 8.9 per 100 hospital beds (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.7-9.0 exposures), 2.2 per 100 full-time—equivalent physicians (95% CI, 2.4-2.6 exposures), and 7.0 per 100 full-time—equivalent nurses (95% CI, 6.8-7.2 exposures). Human immunodeficiency virus serological status was unknown for 2,789 (21.4%) of 13,041 patients who were the source of the blood and body fluid exposures.

Conclusion.

National surveillance networks for blood and body fluid exposures help to better document their characteristics and risk factors and can enhance prevention at participating medical centers.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 28 , Issue 10 , October 2007 , pp. 1196 - 1201
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2007 

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