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The Nature and Frequency of Blood Contacts Among Home Healthcare Workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Elise M. Beltrami ,
Margaret A. McArthur ,
Allison McGeer ,
Maxine Armstrong-Evans ,
Demie Lyons ,
Mary E. Chamberland  and
Denise M. Cardo
Elise M. Beltrami*
Affiliation:
HIV Infections Branch, Hospital Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Margaret A. McArthur
Affiliation:
Mt Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, Toronto, Canada
Allison McGeer
Affiliation:
Mt Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, Toronto, Canada
Maxine Armstrong-Evans
Affiliation:
Mt Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, Toronto, Canada
Demie Lyons
Affiliation:
Mikalix and Company, Boston, Massachusetts
Mary E. Chamberland
Affiliation:
HIV Infections Branch, Hospital Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Denise M. Cardo
Affiliation:
HIV Infections Branch, Hospital Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
*
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E-68, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333
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Abstract

Objective:

To estimate the frequency of, and assess risk factors for, percutaneous, mucous membrane, and cutaneous blood contacts sustained by healthcare workers (HCWs) during the delivery of infusion therapy and the performance of procedures involving sharp instruments in the home setting.

Design:

Prospective surveillance of percutaneous, mucous membrane, and cutaneous blood contacts.

Setting:

Eleven home healthcare agencies in the United States and Canada from August 1996 through June 1997.

Participants:

HCWs who provided home infusion therapy or performed procedures using hollow-bore needles and other sharp instruments in the home setting.

Methods:

Each participating worker recorded information about the procedures performed and blood contacts experienced during each of his or her home visits for a 2- to 4-week period using standard questionnaires. HCWs also completed questionnaires regarding job duties, reporting of previous occupational blood contacts, and their use of protective barriers in the home setting.

Results:

Participating HCWs provided information about 33,606 home visits. A total of 19,164 procedures were performed during 14,744 procedure visits. Fifty-three blood contacts occurred during these visits, for a blood-contact rate of 2.8 blood contacts per 1,000 procedures and 0.6 percutaneous injuries per 1,000 procedures with needles or lancets. Gloves were worn for 52%, masks for 5%, gowns for 3%, and protective glasses or goggles for 2% of all procedure visits. HCWs used barriers for 53% of visits during which at least 1 procedure was performed and for 27% of other visits.

Conclusions:

HCWs involved in home health care are at risk for blood contact. Infection control barrier use was low in our study. The majority of skin contacts could have been prevented by glove use.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 21 , Issue 12 , December 2000 , pp. 765 - 770
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2000

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