A survey was made during a meeting organized by a regional association
for the prevention of nosocomial infections (ARECLIN), on May 26, 199
7. Out of 529 questionnaires handed out, 445 were used for assessment
(84 %). Respondents were nurses (63 %), nursing trainees (10 %), head
nurses (6 %), or physicians (5 %). Initial training had been completed
less than 10 years ago for 63 %, 60 % worked in a general hospital, 2
2 % in an university hospital, and 8 % in private hospitals. Among res
pondents 47,2 % (180/381) reported at least one occupational blood exp
osure. The highest rate was observed in nurses (58 %), but rates were
high in all professions: midwives (55 %) head nurses (35 %), nursing t
rainees (32 %), laboratory workers (27 %), physicians (25 %), auxiliar
y nurses (17 %) and technical personnel (12 %). Systematic reporting o
f all exposures was pointed out by 97 % of responders; in this case, t
he local health service was usually contacted (81 %), or the departmen
t head nurse (75 %). 33% of the accidents were reported within the hou
r following exposure, suggesting anti-HIV prophylaxis, and 41 % within
24 hours. The exposure site was to be cleaned by soap for 68 % and di
sinfected for 83 %. 71 % were aware of the universal precautions conce
pt. 7 out of 10 guidelines were known by more than 80 % of respondents
. The 3 less known were: not removing needles by hand (73 %), bandage
and cover skin lesions far healthcare workers (77 %), and disinfection
of soiled surfaces with 12 degrees sodium hypochlorite (66 %). Even i
f this meeting probably grouped people motivated by the prevention of
occupational blood exposure, these results are encouraging. They show
a good level of knowledge on occupational blood exposure and universal
precautions.