Assessment of occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus in a referral hospital in Burundi, Central Africa
Le Pont, F.ço.; Hatungimana, V.; Guiguet, M.; Ndayiragije, A.; Ndoricimpa, J.; Niyongabo, T.; Larouzé, B.
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 24(10): 717-718
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0899-823X PMID: 14587928 DOI: 10.1086/502908Document Number: 238884
Data from Burundi on the perception of health care workers and medical auxiliaries regarding occupational exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C virus are reported. A questionnaire was given to the personnel of a university hospital in Bujumbura; issues as frequency of exposure, circumstances of exposure and postexposure practices were included in the questionnaire. Also, the cumulative risk for seroconversion to HIV and HCV due to parenteral exposure were estimated based on the data from the survey. A total of 219 HCWs and medical auxiliary staff completed the questionnaire (63% of all staff which include physicians, nurses, nursing assistants and auxiliary staff members). The results showed that physicians, nurses and nursing assistants felt more at risk for HIV infection (91, 94 and 90%, respectively) than did auxiliary staff members (67%; P=0.006). The corresponding rates for HCV infection were 83, 75 and 41% vs. 24%, respectively, (P<0.001). There were 174 individuals who reported sharp object and splash exposures; of whom 148 had had at least one exposure and 55% had had a needle injury during the previous 12 months. More than half (54%) of the exposures involved needles during clinical procedures (injections, blood sampling, venipuncture, etc); the other exposure activities included cleaning and garbage disposal (16%), surgical procedures performed outside the surgical department (8%) and sample decanting and patient washing (6%). Only 48% of the respondents reported applying the adequate procedures after exposure as recommended by the French Ministry of Health. Glove use was reported by all respondents; however, 74% said that they did not always wear gloves, especially during emergency cases. Only 14% of the respondents who had an exposure during the previous 12 months sought medical help. The cumulative 10-year risk of HIV seroconversion was estimated at 1.2, 2.4 and 3.5% with 1, 2 and 3 exposures per year, respectively, in the internal medicine department; the values for HCV for a given staff member was estimated at 3.5 and 11.3%, respectively for assumed risks of seroconversion of 3 and 10%, with an average exposure of 2 per year.