PREVALÊNCIA DE ACIDENTES COM EXPOSIÇÃO A MATERIAL BIOLÓGICO EM HOSPITAIS UNIVERSITÁRIOS DE PELOTAS

Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence of accidents with biological material among health care workers at the university hospitals in the city of Pelotas. A survey was carried out among 406 doctors, nurses, technicians or nurses assistants. After signing a document stating their consent, they answered a questionnaire. The prevalence of accidents last year was 18%. Forty percent of these cases were not reported. Doctors presented 76% more risks of having accidents when compared to technicians or nurses assistants (p=0.045). The risk in hospital B was twice higher than hospital A (PR=2,06 CI95% 1,30-3,27; p=0,002). The majority of accidents occurred with percutaneous exposure (60%), fingers being the body part most injured (47%), and the Surgical Center was the place where more accidents were reported (24%). This finding is in accordance with the fact that among the surgeous the prevalence of accidents was 48%. The prevalence of accidents during the professional lifetime was 64%. Thirty six percent of these cases were not reported. The factors related to accidents in the last year were young age, to work in hospital B and to be a medical doctor or nurse. The higher time in the function, not mattering age and hospital, was associated to accidents during the professional experience