PREVALÊNCIA DE ACIDENTES COM EXPOSIÇÃO A MATERIALBIOLÓGICO EM HOSPITAIS UNIVERSITÁRIOS DE PELOTAS

by PRIMO, LUCIENE SMITHS

This study investigated the occurrence of accidents with biological material amonghealth care workers at the university hospitals in the city of Pelotas. A survey was carriedout among 406 doctors, nurses, technicians or nurses assistants. After signing a documentstating their consent, they answered a questionnaire. The prevalence of accidents last yearwas 18%. Forty percent of these cases were not reported. Doctors presented 76% more risksof having accidents when compared to technicians or nurses assistants (p=0.045). The riskin 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 bodypart 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 theprevalence 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 toaccidents 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 toaccidents during the professional experience