Health Professionals At Risk Of Bloodborne Viruses

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Health Professionals At Risk Of Bloodborne Viruses

Healthcare workers are still being put at risk of bloodborne viruses through

occupational exposure and a significant number of these incidents are

preventable, according to a report released today by the Health Protection

Agency.

'Eye of the Needle', the Agency's bi-annual report into the occupational

exposure of healthcare workers to bloodborne viruses, reviews the trends and

number of incidents involving exposures, via needlestick injury or sharp

objects, to patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

In total there were 914 incidents where healthcare workers were put at risk,

over the last two years (2006/2007). Four healthcare workers were reported as

having acquired hepatitis C infection as a result of their injury.

Between 2000 and 2007, most occupational exposures involved nursing

professionals (48% 1447/3039). A recent report by the Royal College of Nursing

showed the concerns of nursing staff about occupational exposure to bloodborne

viruses and how one third of them feel at risk of contracting diseases such as

HIV and hepatitis C following such injuries. Latest figures collected by the

Agency for 2007 show that, for the first time, medical and dental professionals

reported a higher proportion of significant occupational exposures to bloodborne

viruses (46% compared with 44% among nursing staff).

The Agency's research found that some healthcare workers injured at work with

sharp objects or needles are still not going for appropriate tests and follow-up

checks for hepatitis C. This puts them at unnecessary risk of developing chronic

infections.

78% of those who had been put at risk of hepatitis C may not have been followed

up adequately, potentially leaving some cases of hepatitis C undiagnosed without

treatment or care. If untreated, hepatitis C can lead to chronic liver disease

or eventually cancer of the liver.

Professor Mike Catchpole, Director of the Health Protection Agency's Centre for

Infections, said: " Although the numbers of reported healthcare workers infected

with hepatitis C following their injury were few, these cases should never have

occurred. We all need to do everything we can to prevent occupational exposure

injuries occurring. It is important for healthcare workers to report incidents

of occupational exposure. Testing and follow up checks are vital as infections

can remain undetected for many years. However, our main aim should be doing

everything we can to prevent occupational exposure injuries occurring in the

first place. "

" Many incidents of occupational exposure can be prevented if there is proper

adherence to standard precautions for the safe handling and disposal of clinical

waste. "

On the whole, the report shows encouraging results on the implementation of

national policies in the management of these exposure incidents, with the

exception of testing and follow-up for hepatitis C.

The report found that guidelines on the use of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

(PEP), administered to healthcare workers to help prevent them contracting HIV,

were being adhered to. Other than the five HIV seroconversions reported up to

1999, no new cases of HIV have occurred in the UK among healthcare workers

through occupational exposure. This is despite injuries involving HIV infected

source patients representing 22% of all occupational exposures through

needlesticks and other sharps, between 2000 and 2007.

Dr Fortune Ncube, Consultant Epidemiologist at the Health Protection Agency,

said " It is so important that guidelines around the use of PEP are followed and

that treatment is provided quickly. This can make the difference between good

health or contracting a life-long infection. "

" Healthcare workers must be vigilant in reporting possible exposures to infected

patients. There is no place for complacency, contracting bloodborne viruses

through occupational exposure is a real risk. "

[Guest guest]

http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/38/26990/health-professionals-risk-bloodborne-viruse\

s.html

Health Professionals At Risk Of Bloodborne Viruses

Healthcare workers are still being put at risk of bloodborne viruses through

occupational exposure and a significant number of these incidents are

preventable, according to a report released today by the Health Protection

Agency.

'Eye of the Needle', the Agency's bi-annual report into the occupational

exposure of healthcare workers to bloodborne viruses, reviews the trends and

number of incidents involving exposures, via needlestick injury or sharp

objects, to patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

In total there were 914 incidents where healthcare workers were put at risk,

over the last two years (2006/2007). Four healthcare workers were reported as

having acquired hepatitis C infection as a result of their injury.

Between 2000 and 2007, most occupational exposures involved nursing

professionals (48% 1447/3039). A recent report by the Royal College of Nursing

showed the concerns of nursing staff about occupational exposure to bloodborne

viruses and how one third of them feel at risk of contracting diseases such as

HIV and hepatitis C following such injuries. Latest figures collected by the

Agency for 2007 show that, for the first time, medical and dental professionals

reported a higher proportion of significant occupational exposures to bloodborne

viruses (46% compared with 44% among nursing staff).

The Agency's research found that some healthcare workers injured at work with

sharp objects or needles are still not going for appropriate tests and follow-up

checks for hepatitis C. This puts them at unnecessary risk of developing chronic

infections.

78% of those who had been put at risk of hepatitis C may not have been followed

up adequately, potentially leaving some cases of hepatitis C undiagnosed without

treatment or care. If untreated, hepatitis C can lead to chronic liver disease

or eventually cancer of the liver.

Professor Mike Catchpole, Director of the Health Protection Agency's Centre for

Infections, said: " Although the numbers of reported healthcare workers infected

with hepatitis C following their injury were few, these cases should never have

occurred. We all need to do everything we can to prevent occupational exposure

injuries occurring. It is important for healthcare workers to report incidents

of occupational exposure. Testing and follow up checks are vital as infections

can remain undetected for many years. However, our main aim should be doing

everything we can to prevent occupational exposure injuries occurring in the

first place. "

" Many incidents of occupational exposure can be prevented if there is proper

adherence to standard precautions for the safe handling and disposal of clinical

waste. "

On the whole, the report shows encouraging results on the implementation of

national policies in the management of these exposure incidents, with the

exception of testing and follow-up for hepatitis C.

The report found that guidelines on the use of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

(PEP), administered to healthcare workers to help prevent them contracting HIV,

were being adhered to. Other than the five HIV seroconversions reported up to

1999, no new cases of HIV have occurred in the UK among healthcare workers

through occupational exposure. This is despite injuries involving HIV infected

source patients representing 22% of all occupational exposures through

needlesticks and other sharps, between 2000 and 2007.

Dr Fortune Ncube, Consultant Epidemiologist at the Health Protection Agency,

said " It is so important that guidelines around the use of PEP are followed and

that treatment is provided quickly. This can make the difference between good

health or contracting a life-long infection. "

" Healthcare workers must be vigilant in reporting possible exposures to infected

patients. There is no place for complacency, contracting bloodborne viruses

through occupational exposure is a real risk. "