Infection risks following accidental exposure to blood or body fluids in health care workers: a review of pathogens transmitted in published cases.

Full Abstract

Hospital staff and all other human or veterinary health care workers, including laboratory, research, emergency service, or cleaning personnel are exposed to the risk of occupational infection following accidental exposure to blood or body fluids (BBF) contaminated with a virus, a bacteria, a parasite, or a yeast. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or those of hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) account for most of this risk in France and worldwide. Many other pathogens, however, have been responsible for occupational infections in health care workers following exposure to BBF, some with unfavorable prognosis. In developed countries, a growing number of workers are referred to clinicians responsible for the evaluation of occupational infection risks following accidental exposure. Although their principal task remains the evaluation of the risks of HIV, HBV, or HCV transmission and the possible usefulness of postexposure prophylaxis, these experts are also responsible for evaluating risks of occupational infection with other emergent or more rare pathogens and their possible timely prevention. The determinants of the risks of infection and the characteristics of described cases are discussed in this article.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Tarantola, Arnaud (A); Abiteboul, Dominique (D); Rachline, Anne (A);

Affiliation: International and Tropical Department, National Institute for Public Health Surveillance, InVS, Saint-Maurice, France. a.tarantola(-atsign-)invs.sante.fr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: American journal of infection control (Am J Infect Control), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 34 (issue 6) : pp 367-75

Dates: Created 2006/07/31; Completed 2006/09/18; Revised 2006/10/13;

PMID: 16877106, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage
Blood - microbiology; parasitology; virology
Blood-Borne Pathogens - classification
Body Fluids - microbiology; parasitology; virology
France
Health Occupations - statistics & numerical data
Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data

Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Infection - transmission
Needlestick Injuries - classification; microbiology
Occupational Exposure - prevention & control
Prion Diseases - prevention & control
Research Personnel - statistics & numerical data
Risk

Associated Chemicals: Antiviral Agents (0)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.