Epidemiological analysis of accidents with biological material in an eye hospital

Abstract

Objective: Toanalyzetheincidenceandcharacteristicsofaccidentswithbiological material in anophthalmologyhospital inthe Northeast ofBrazil. Methods: Retrospectivedescriptivestudyon ducted through a surveyof biological material accidents notifiedby Comunicação de Acidentes de Trabalho (CAT) during 2010-2013. Results: 34 accidents were reported, 26 (76.5%) workers were femalesand 8 (23.5%) were males. The mean age was 30.0 ± 5.9 years. Forty-eight (82.3%) accidentsoccurred in thesurgicalroomofthe hospital, 15 (44.1%) werewithauxiliary / practical nurses, 8 (23.5%) withsurgicaltechnologists, 5 (14.7%) with training physicians, 4 (11.8%) withtrainedphysiciansand 2 (5.9%) withcleaning staff. Accidentswerewith percutaneus in 30 (88.2%) cases, andcontactwith mucosa in 4 (11.7%). In 28 (82.4%) cases theaccidentwas in theupperlimb, 4 (11.8%) in the face, and 2 (5.8%) in the lowerlimbs. The accidentoccurredduringsurgery in 12 (35.3%) and 10 (29.4%) duringmanipulationofthe material aftersurgery. The injuries occurred with employees who had an average of two years of experience and after 5.5 hours worked.Conclusion:Occupational accidents with biological material in an ophthalmology hospital were more frequent with auxiliary/practical nurses, during surgery and in the manipulation of instruments after surgery.This study demonstrated the importance of identifying risks of occupational accidents among health professionals in ophthalmology.