229833 Risks of bloodborne pathogen transmission to Zambian healthcare workers

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Elayne Kornblatt Phillips, RN, MPH, PhD , International Health Care Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Janine C. Jagger, MPH, PhD , International Health Care Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Matthew Chung, MD , Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Ginger Parker, MBA , International Healthcare Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Owen Simwale, MPH , Epidemiology, PhD Student*, Harisburg, PA
  
– Healthcare workers in five Zambian facilities were surveyed regarding their employment descriptors and factors related to bloodborne pathogen transmission risk (including job title, department, injury and blood splash experiences, protective device and equipment use, and vaccination status). 442 workers returned surveys. We found high injury rates among Zambian healthcare workers (1.4 injuries per worker per year), with service workers having the highest rates (2.6). Combined with high prevalence of bloodborne diseases, this constitutes an extremely high occupational risk situation. Syringes caused more than half of all injuries, and 20% of syringe injuries were from high risk blood drawing activities. Although HIV PEP was readily available (87%), hepatitis B vaccination (full series) was uncommon (8%). These results will be compared to similar data for U.S. healthcare workers. Recommendations for changes in disposal systems, equipment safety, and vaccination status will be discussed, with particular emphasis on safety in resource-poor countries. Roles for workers, administrators and policy makers will also be outlined.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the risks of bloodborne pathogen transmission to Zambian healthcare workers 2. Compare the risks of Zambian healthcare workers to workers in other countries 3. Formulate recommendations to decrease risk among Zambian healthcare workers.

Keywords: Occupational Injury and Death, International Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am the research director for the international healthcare worker safety center and have conducted many international studies on healthcare worker risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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