THE RISK OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY-FLUIDS FOR HEALTH-CARE WORKERS IN THE DIALYSIS SETTING

In 1991, to assess the risk of occupational exposure to blood or other body fluids in health-care workers (HCWs) working in the dialysis set ting, properly trained interviewers used standardized questionnaires a sking the 583 HCWs employed in 19 Italian dialysis units to recall exp osures sustained in the previous year. On a total of 208,498 dialyses performed in the previous year, 105 (5 per 10,000 dialyses) needlestic ks, and 579 (28 per 10,000 dialyses) skin/mucous membrane contaminatio ns were recalled. Recapping injuries were recalled in 38 cases (1.8 pe r 10,000 dialyses), but 67 needlestick injuries (4.1 per 10,000 dialys es) occurred during other circumstances (p = 0.006). The highest rate of skin/mucous membrane contaminations were recalled during the dialys is patient care, but more than one third of exposures occurred in othe r circumstances (break in blood circuit, disposal, contamination with blood-soiled equipment. To minimize the risk of occupational exposure to blood efforts must continue to increase compliance with Universal P recautions; moreover, needle designs incorporating safety features to prevent sticks are needed.