Practice of universal precautions and risk of occupational blood-borne viral infection among Congolese health care workers

Am J Infect Control. 2012 Feb;40(1):68-70.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2011.01.021. Epub 2011 May 17.

Abstract

The extent of occupational injuries among health care workers in central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is not documented. We sought to determine the incidence of percutaneous injury and exposure to blood and other body fluids in Congolese urban and rural hospitals in the previous year. Our data show high rates of percutaneous injury and exposure to blood and other body fluids, reflecting poor safety conditions for most Congolese health care workers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational / prevention & control*
  • Blood-Borne Pathogens / isolation & purification
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Guideline Adherence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Personnel*
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Needlestick Injuries / complications*
  • Needlestick Injuries / epidemiology
  • Needlestick Injuries / prevention & control
  • Occupational Exposure / prevention & control*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Universal Precautions / methods*
  • Virus Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Virus Diseases / prevention & control