Occupational blood exposure among personnel employed in a department of infectious diseases. 1. Frequency and reporting

: We investigated the frequency and reporting rate of occupational blood exposure among formerly and presently employed medical staff in a Department of Infectious Diseases (DID) from 1987-1991, the department has a high prevalence of HIV-positive patients. Subjects were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire describing occupational percutaneous (PCE) and mucocutaneous (MCE) blood exposure experienced during their employment at the DID. One hundred and thirty-five out of 168 (80%) subjects responded. Forty-five subjects described 37 PCE and 15 MCE. Forty-four (85%) of the exposures involved HIV-positive blood and six (11.5%) involved blood from a patient with hepatitis B. Incidence rates of PCE and MCE per year (PY) were: A) Interns and residents: 0.51 PCE/PY and 0.17 MCE/PY. B): Senior residents and senior physicians 0.13 PCE/PY and 0.21 MCE/PY. C) Registered nurses 0.11 PCE/PY and 0.03 MCE/PY. D) Nursing assistants 0.09 PCE/PY and 0.11 MCE/PY. Sixty-five percent of PCE and 13% of MCE were reported to the security representative. The major reason for not reporting was that the subject found it unnecessary. We conclude that medical personnel, especially interns and residents, employed at clinics of infectious diseases have a real and serious risk of being exposed to infectious blood. The importance of reporting needs to be stressed.