Prevalence of occupational exposure to infectious diseases among healthcare workers in a tertiary dermatology hospital from 2020 to 2023

Abstract

Objective To investigate the characteristics of occupational exposure to infectious diseases in dermatology hospital in order to provide feasible recommendations to the prevention and control of occupational exposure to infectious diseases. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the 4-year data (2020 to 2023) on occupational exposure to infectious diseases from a tertiary dermatology hospital. Results A total of 97 medical staff had work-related infectious diseases. The prevalence of work-related infectious diseases appeared a parabolic curve during that period (χ2=4.09, P=0.043). Large portion of the infected staff were doctors (59.79%), aged≤35 years(85.56%), with working experience of ≤5 years (71.13%). The outpatient department was the main exposure site (59.79%), while 86.60% of infections were caused by sharp injury. Hand was the main affected site (84.54%). Injection and puncture were the main procedures causing infections (39.17%). Uncareful procedures and inappropriate personal protection were the major causes of work-related infections (92.78%). The common pathogens were hepatitis B (13.40%), treponema pallidum (8.25%) and human immunodeficiency virus (2.06%) while 27.84% of infections were with unknown pathogens. Conclusions The annual rate of occupational exposure to infectious diseases among medical staff is high in specialized hospitals for dermatology, especially among doctors, younger and less experienced personnel. In comparison to general hospital, the risk of occupational exposure to infectious diseases displays specialty-related characteristics. To effectively prevent and control occupational exposure to infectious diseases, it is necessary to strengthen training, standardize protection, properly manage post-exposure, establish information reporting system, and take care of mental health of medical personnel.

Keywords

• dermatology hospital
• infectious occupational exposure
• healthcare worker
• cross-sectional study