Occupational exposure among health care workers in a hospital

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo understand the characteristics of population distribution, risk factors and risk links of occupational exposure among health care workers(HCWs)  in a hospital. MethodsOccupational exposure among HCWs  between January 2011 and June 2014 were monitored, data about occupational categories of HCWs, exposure locations, exposure links and exposure  modes were analyzed statistically. ResultsAmong 286 occupational exposure cases, the female and  male HCWs accounted for 22.03% (n=63) and 77.97% (n=223) respectively;  the  incidence of occupational exposure in 2011,2012,2013 and JanuaryJune of 2014 was 38.81%(n=111), 26.22% (n=75), 23.43% (n=67) and 11.54% (n=33) respectively; occupational exposure of junior nurses, doctors, nursing attendants,technicians, senior nurses and cleaners was 31.97%,19.90%, 15.79%, 7.64%, 4.17%, and 2.84% respectively; exposure mainly occurred at the time of sorting waste, withdrawing or changing needles, discarding sharps into sharps containers, surgical suturing or instruments passing, and puncturing (including drawing blood), the constituent  ratio was 22.38%, 19.58%, 14.34%, 12.94% and 11.19%, respectively; the main locations where exposure occurred were wards, operating rooms and injection (treatment) rooms, the constituent  ratio was 51.40%, 19.58% and 11.54% respectively. ConclusionHospital should establish comprehensive occupational exposure monitoring and risk management system, strengthen standard prevention, enhance the training about occupational exposure among highrisk population, and monitor and intervene on risk factors and links, so as to reduce the incidence of  HCWs’ occupational exposure.