Summary
Background
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of infection with blood-borne pathogens
due to occupational blood exposures (OBEs). Early reporting, detection and postexposure
prophylaxis (PEP) help to prevent infections.
Aim
To investigate the incidence of OBEs, related epidemiological characteristics, PEP
completion rate, time and reason for PEP discontinuation, and seroconversion rate
reported over 10 years.
Methods
This retrospective study analysed 1086 cases of OBE and PEP management from January
2012 to December 2021 among staff in a South Korean tertiary hospital.
Findings
The mean incidence of OBE was 7.82 per 100 beds and 3.0 per 100 HCWs. Of 1086 cases
of OBE, 633 (58.3%) HCWs required PEP and 453 (41.7%) did not. After OBE, 70.1% (444/633)
of HCWs subject to PEP completed tracking, and 29.9% (189/633) stopped PEP tracking
(P<0.001). The PEP completion rate showed a significant difference by gender (P=0.024), occupation (P<0.001) and exposure frequency (P<0.001). None of the 444 HCWs who completed PEP seroconverted to hepatitis B virus,
hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus or Treponema pallidum (syphilis).
Conclusion
The study findings demonstrate the need to improve follow-up care among HCWs following
OBE. There is a need for education in healthcare facilities; moreover, establishing
a national surveillance system is necessary to ensure that HCWs undergo PEP proactively
and complete their follow-up visits.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 17, 2023
Accepted:
February 6,
2023
Received:
October 13,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
