Blood-borne infections in healthcare workers in South Africa

Blood-borne infections in healthcare workers in South Africa.

The risks associated with infection of healthcare workers and students with blood-borne pathogens, specifically HIV, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, are often neglected. South Africa (SA) currently has no official policies or guidelines in place for the prevention and management of these infections. This article reviews the available data and international guidelines with regard to inf...

Post-exposure prophylaxis for blood borne viral infections in healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers have a high risk of occupational exposure, more so in developing countries, with high incidence of blood borne diseases and prevalence of unsafe practices. Among the various blood borne diseases, the most common and important ones are HIV infection, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Most of the occupational transmission can be prevented and the "standard precaution" has been show...

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne infections in healthcare workers

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne infections in healthcare workers

Global epidemiology of blood-borne infections in healthcare workers Estimated numbers of HCWs vary, with a World Health Organization (WHO) figure of 35 million rising to as many as 100 million if all healthcare-related staff are included, in addition to the doctors, nurses, and midwives in active practice. If we assume that the prevalence rates are at least similar to those in the general popul...

Healthcare workers infected with, blood-borne illnesses in Canada.

Healthcare workers infected with blood-borne illnesses present profound ethical and legal problems. While we seek to protect patients from threat and respect their right to bodily integrity and informed consent, we also recognize the right to privacy and the human rights interests of the infected worker to be free from discrimination.