Accidents involving biological material: the reality of a hospital in inner São Paulo state

a realidade de uma instituição hospitalar do interior paulista

Abstract

This study aims to characterize the professionals of a nursing team who suffered accidents involving biological material between 2001 and 2006, as well as to verify the occurrence of seroconversion for hepatitis-B, C and HIV through corroborative tests. It is an exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach. In the mentioned period, 87 accidents were reported. Most accidents occurred in 2003, 2005 and 2006 at the clinical surgery and emergency units. Females were most frequently victimized, and according to the proportional gender analysis of staff members, the number of victimized males was noteworthy. Percutaneous lesions involving blood were predominant. Most professionals were using IPE at the moment of exposure. Of the 87 exposure instances, eight accidents involving hepatitis B-, C- or HIV-positive patients occurred. After follow-up with laboratory tests, no seroconversion was observed. The mentioned facts show that systematic interventions should be incorporated to institutional policies in order to promote higher adherence to preventive measures and technological innovations related to this type of aggravation. Since this kind of accident causes loss to the victimized individuals, health promotion in the work environment should be considered a priority.