Risk of occupational exposure to the HBV infection in non-clinical healthcare personnel

Abstract

Background: Occupational risk of blood-borne infections is investigated mostly among nurses and doctors, studies concerning non-clinical health personnel (nCHP) being rare. The analysis of the occupational exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the history of vaccination against the HBV in the nCHP group has been the aim of the study. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 458 cases of the occupational exposure to biological agents was conducted: group I – doctors (N = 121, 28%), group II – nursing staff (N = 251, 55%), group III – nCHP (N = 86, 19%). Results: In the group III the source was usually unknown (group: I – 0.83%, II – 11.16%, III – 86.05%, p < 0.001), and the proportion of individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B before the exposure was the lowest (group: I – 98.35%, II – 97.19%, III – 77.91%, p < 0.001). In this group most exposures resulted from injuries caused by needles/sharps deposited in waste sacks (60%) or anywhere outside of the medical waste container (5%). The possibility of the HBV infection risk during the exposure was found in 25 cases and was significantly more frequent in the group III. The qualification for the HBV post-exposure prophylaxis was also significantly more frequent in the group III. Conclusions: The exposure to the occupational risk of the HBV infection also concerns the non-clinical healthcare personnel. The non-clinical healthcare personnel comprises one of the main groups of the HBV post-exposure recipients. It is essential to determine the causes of the low hepatitis B vaccination coverage in the nCHP and consider introduction of mandatory vaccination in this group in Poland. Med Pr 2016;67(3):301–310

Keywords

• HBV
• non-clinical healthcare personnel
• needlestick injury
• vaccination against HBV
• occupational risk of HBV infection
• orderlies