BACKGROUND Nonoccupational human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for adults has been described, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, offer no specific recommendations. There is limited information about its use in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE To describe the current practices of physicians in pediatric infectious disease (PID...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Blood and infectious body fluid (BBF) exposures are common safety problems for health care workers (HCWs). We analyzed reported BBF exposures during a 3-year period at a teaching hospital. METHODS We collected reports of BBF exposures among HCWs occurring from January 2001 to December 2003 at a 2000-bed tertiary care medical center in northern Taiwan. HCWs were requeste...

The aims of this cross-sectional study were to investigate the prevalence and circumstances of needlestick injury (NSI) among heath care workers at University of Alexandria teaching hospitals and to assess the effectiveness of the existing control measures and standard precautions. Data were obtained by anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire from 645 nurses, physicians and ancillary staff in 2...

Sharps-related injuries carry the risk of serious blood borne infection. A systematic review was undertaken to consider the evidence related to safer sharps devices and their impact on needlestick injury reduction within the healthcare sector. The review sought to determine whether: n the use of safer sharps devices could reduce the incidence of sharps injury; n dedicated educational / training...

To the Editor: Despite safety recommendations, the increased availability of personal protective equipment, and the implementation of improved disposal systems, high-risk needlestick injuries continue to occur in unacceptably high numbers in healthcare settings.1 Design features of needle devices are relevant to their high injury risk. For example, butterflytype devices with needle-shielding fe...

BACKGROUND Health care workers (HCWs) are vulnerable populations for infection with blood borne pathogens. This study was conducted to determine occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among HCWs in teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. METHODS A self-structures questionnaire was used to study 650 HCWs during 2006 -2007 in some teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. RESULTS occupational e...

BACKGROUND Two doctors working on a busy intensive care unit sustained injuries whilst removing a chest drain from an HIV-positive patient. One doctor had a needlestick injury into his finger whilst the other sustained an eyesplash when the chest drain was pulled out. METHODS Following Department of Health format 'Doing less harm', a root cause and human factor analysis of the incident was ca...