Percutaneous exposure incidents in nurses: Knowledge, practice and exposure to hepatitis B infection

BACKGROUND Nurses are at risk of percutaneous exposure incidents (PEIs), which may lead to serious or even fatal blood-borne infections. OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of PEIs in the last year, among nurses and to assess their knowledge about and frequency of safe method of practice in exposure to blood-borne pathogens (especially, to HBV). MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study in 2008 was conducted on 138 nurses working in general surgery and obstetrics/gynecology services of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Central Iran. A questionnaire for assessment of risk factors for contracting HBV infection was completed by nurses. RESULTS Overall, the prevalence of needle stick injury (NSI) and direct exposure to body fluids were 52.9% (95% CI: 44.5%-61.3%) and 65.4% (95% CI: 57.4% - 73.8%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two studied centers in terms of sharp injuries; however, the rate of repeated NSI (number per each year ≥3) and mucocutaneous exposures were significantly higher in the general surgery ward. The overall coverage of vaccination in the two studied centers was 96.3%, but the rate of accurate answers to many questions pertaining to knowledge and practice were less than 50%. CONCLUSIONS Nurses are still at significant risk for developing NSI and mucocutaneous exposure. Continuous educational programs (especially by highlighting the seriousness of the problem) are necessary for improving this situation because inadequate education might increase unsafely practice.