Occupational Health Update: Evaluation and Management of Exposures and Postexposure Prophylaxis

Incidence and Risks of HIV Infection, Medication Options, and Adverse Effects in Accidental Needle Stick Injuries: A Narrative Review

Accidental needle sticks can lead to infections, including HIV. As scientists have learned more about HIV and its replicative physiology, identification of target sites and novel medications have been developed. HIV is spread throughout the population through contact with blood, semen, and rectal or vaginal secretions of infected individuals. Therefore, it is important in general for healthcare workers to be aware of its transmission modes and ways to minimize exposure. In this regard, even with hospitals providing education, training, and safety protocols, there is a continued infection spread with HIV, especially by accidental needle sticks. There is also a wide variety of testing that can be used for HIV utilizing different methodologies, allowing for improved measurement of infection status. Any person with HIV should be tested to clarify infection status and be educated to minimize future virus spread. The current CDC recommendations for HIV infection treatment are antiretroviral therapies, such as an HIV postexposure prophylaxis regimen, which consists of a cocktail of antiretrovirals and postexposure prophylaxis immediately for occupational exposures, such as accidental needlestick exposure from an HIV infected patient. To decrease accidental HIV stick injuries, there are safety precautions in place, that if followed, would help reduce this incidence. HIV accidental needle stick injuries still happen in the hospital workplace, but with proper education and treatment, if exposed, there is hope to minimize the effects.

The Cross-Sectional Study of attitudes towards risk factors of viral infections transmitted by blood-borne pathogens

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this paper was threefold: To assess risk factors of blood-borne pathogen exposure and viral infection for employees at their workplace, to spot the differences between groups of respondents without exposure and those exposed to blood-borne infections, and to identify main risk predictors.

METHOD

The Cross-Sectional Study was conducted, surveying 203 employees, at the Institute for Emergency Medical Services in Serbia, which were eligible to enter the study and surveyed by Previously Developed Questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 97.60% of respondents have perceived risk at their workplace, but there were low numbers of HIV, HbcAg, and Anti-HCV testing and poor percent of vaccination for hepatitis B. There were no statistically significant differences between spotted groups of respondents in their attitudes. Three variables were predictors: accidental usedneedle stick injuries (OR = 90.34; 95% CI, 8.79-928.03), contact with the blood of patientsthrough the skin (OR = 176.94; 95% CI, 24.95-1254.61), and the years of service (OR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-1.00).

CONCLUSION

The significance of this study is that it points to a double risk, because not only health workers are endangered, but also citizens who receive first aid.