Archive

---

Med. Pr. 2006;57(5):439-450

Critical evaluation of reporting on postexposure skin damage incidents and its consequences for Polish health workers

Krytyczna ocena rejestracji ekspozycji zawodowych związanych z naruszeniem ciągłości tkanek oraz wynikających z tego konsekwencj

Sylwia Serafińska, Patryk Smoliński, Andrzej Gładysz Medical University of Wrocław, Poland

Abstract

Background: The principles of uniform reports on infections with HBV, HCV, HIV due to occupational exposure have not yet been established in Poland. Usually, reporting on such incidents is governed by internal rules of individual health care institutions. The aim ofthe study was to assess the possibility of obtaining data on postexposure incidents among health care workers in different voivodeships (regions) and to identify a group of persons who most frequently reported such cases in a given calendar year. Material and Methods: Nineteen medical centers from all 16 voivodeships were invited to participate in the study. The main condition to be enrolled in the study was to provide full postexposure prophylaxis log. Results and Conclusions: In all, 8 centers from 8 voivodeships were enrolled inthe final study. Only in 4 voivodehips, completely centralized postexposure prophylaxis logs were in operation. Women with secondary education (nurses) formed the major group of exposed persons. Exposure incidents occurred most frequently in wards or operationrooms while performing medical procedures or immediately after. Blood collection predominated among various kinds of exposure. The majority (75.7%) of health workers underwent full vaccination program against HBV. The analysis revealed large differences in exposure reporting between individual voivodeships. Sometimes they made it even difficult to complete full demographic data concerning exposed persons. Therefore, a universal tool ofnationwide system should be elaborated. Such a system (an example is presented by the authors), regularly verified, might provide grounds for a wider analysis of postexposure prophylaxis efficacy, details concerning exposure incidents and their consequences in the future. This may greatly contribute to the reduction of exposure rates among health care workers.

Key words

post-exposure prophylaxis, exposure, helath care workers