Weronika Rymer1, Andrzej Gładysz2, Henryk Filipowski3, Anna Zubkiewicz-Zarębska4, Anna Tumińska5, Brygida Knysz6. 1. Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). weronika.rymer@umed.wroc.pl. 2. Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). agladysz@mp.pl. 3. Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Patophysiology / Katedra i Zakład Patofizjologii). speat.hf@gmail.com. 4. Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). a.w.zubkiewicz@gmail.com. 5. Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Physiology / Katedra i Zakład Fizjologii). anna.tuminska@gmail.com. 6. Wroclaw Medical University / Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, Poland (Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies / Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych, Chorób Wątroby i Nabytych Niedoborów Odpornościowych). brygidaknysz@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Occupational risk of blood-borne infections is investigated mostly among nurses and doctors, studies concerning non-clinical health personnel (nCHP) being rare. The analysis of the occupational exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the history of vaccination against the HBV in the nCHP group has been the aim of the study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 458 cases of the occupational exposure to biological agents was conducted: group I - doctors (N = 121, 28%), group II - nursing staff (N = 251, 55%), group III - nCHP (N = 86, 19%). RESULTS: In the group III the source was usually unknown (group: I - 0.83%, II - 11.16%, III - 86.05%, p < 0.001), and the proportion of individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B before the exposure was the lowest (group: I - 98.35%, II - 97.19%, III - 77.91%, p < 0.001). In this group most exposures resulted from injuries caused by needles/sharps deposited in waste sacks (60%) or anywhere outside of the medical waste container (5%). The possibility of the HBV infection risk during the exposure was found in 25 cases and was significantly more frequent in the group III. The qualification for the HBV post-exposure prophylaxis was also significantly more frequent in the group III. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to the occupational risk of the HBV infection also concerns the non-clinical healthcare personnel. The non-clinical healthcare personnel comprises one of the main groups of the HBV post-exposure recipients. It is essential to determine the causes of the low hepatitis B vaccination coverage in the nCHP and consider introduction of mandatory vaccination in this group in Poland. Med Pr 2016;67(3):301-310. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.
BACKGROUND: Occupational risk of blood-borne infections is investigated mostly among nurses and doctors, studies concerning non-clinical health personnel (nCHP) being rare. The analysis of the occupational exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the history of vaccination against the HBV in the nCHP group has been the aim of the study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 458 cases of the occupational exposure to biological agents was conducted: group I - doctors (N = 121, 28%), group II - nursing staff (N = 251, 55%), group III - nCHP (N = 86, 19%). RESULTS: In the group III the source was usually unknown (group: I - 0.83%, II - 11.16%, III - 86.05%, p < 0.001), and the proportion of individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B before the exposure was the lowest (group: I - 98.35%, II - 97.19%, III - 77.91%, p < 0.001). In this group most exposures resulted from injuries caused by needles/sharps deposited in waste sacks (60%) or anywhere outside of the medical waste container (5%). The possibility of the HBV infection risk during the exposure was found in 25 cases and was significantly more frequent in the group III. The qualification for the HBV post-exposure prophylaxis was also significantly more frequent in the group III. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to the occupational risk of the HBV infection also concerns the non-clinical healthcare personnel. The non-clinical healthcare personnel comprises one of the main groups of the HBV post-exposure recipients. It is essential to determine the causes of the low hepatitis B vaccination coverage in the nCHP and consider introduction of mandatory vaccination in this group in Poland. Med Pr 2016;67(3):301-310. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.
Entities:
Keywords:
HBV; needlestick injury; non-clinical healthcare personnel; occupational risk of HBV infection; orderlies; vaccination against HBV