Journal article
Hospital bloodborne pathogens programs: program characteristics and blood and body fluid exposure rates
Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.22(2), pp.73-82
2000
DOI: 10.1086/501867
PMID: 11232882
Abstract
To describe hospital practices and policies relating to bloodborne pathogens and current rates of occupational exposure among healthcare workers.
Hospitals in Iowa and Virginia were surveyed in 1996 and 1997 about Standard Precautions training programs and compliance. The primary outcome measures were rates of percutaneous injuries and mucocutaneous exposures.
153 (64%) of 240 hospitals responded. New employee training was offered no more than twice per year by nearly one third. Most (79%-80%) facilities monitored compliance of nurses, housekeepers, and laboratory technicians; physicians rarely were trained or monitored. Implementation of needlestick prevention devices was the most common action taken to decrease sharps injuries. Over one half of hospitals used needleless intravenous systems; larger hospitals used these significantly more often. Protected devices for phlebotomy or intravenous placement were purchased by only one third. Most (89% of large and 80% of small) hospitals met the recommended infection control personnel-to-bed ratio of 1:250. Eleven percent did not have access to postexposure care during all working hours. Percutaneous injury surveillance relied on incident reports (99% of facilities) and employee health records (61%). The annual reported percutaneous injury incidence rate from 106 hospitals was 5.3 injuries per 100 personnel. Compared to single tertiary-referral institution rates determined more than 5 years previously, current injury rates remain elevated in community hospitals.
Healthcare institutions need to commit sufficient resources to Standard Precautions training and monitoring and to infection control programs to meet the needs of all workers, including physicians. Healthcare workers clearly remain at risk for injury. Further effective interventions are needed for employee training, improving adherence, and providing needlestick prevention devices.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Hospital bloodborne pathogens programs: program characteristics and blood and body fluid exposure rates
- Creators
- Susan E Beekmann - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesThomas E Vaughn - Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesKimberly D Mccoy - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesKristi J Ferguson - Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesJames C Torner - Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United StatesRobert F Woolson - University of Iowa, Statistics and Actuarial ScienceBradley N Doebbeling - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.22(2), pp.73-82
- DOI
- 10.1086/501867
- PMID
- 11232882
- NLM abbreviation
- Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
- ISSN
- 0899-823X
- eISSN
- 1559-6834
- Publisher
- Slack
- Grant note
- U60/CCU172173 / PHS HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2000
- Academic Unit
- Statistics and Actuarial Science; Health Management and Policy; Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Surgery; Nursing; Injury Prevention Research Center; General Internal Medicine; Neurosurgery; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984214790702771
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