Occupational accidents involving exposure to biological material reported at a worker’s health sentinel unit: 11,645 cases

Abstract

Introduction: Health professionals are exposed to various occupational biological, chemical, physical, and ergonomic risks, in addition to the risk of accidents. Understanding occupational accidents involving biological material in a specific area could be an initial step towards prioritizing correct working conditions. Objectives: To determine the profile of occupational accidents involving exposure to biological material based on data from a sentinel unit in Curitiba, Brazil. Methods: This observational, retrospective, descriptive study with quantitative methods collected disease notification system data from 2008-2018. Results: During the study period, 11,645 cases of occupational accidents involving biological material were reported. Most victims were women (80.4%) and nursing technicians (30.9%). The highest number of accidents involved material found on the floor (11.1%). Regarding personal protective equipment, 69% of the victims used procedure gloves. The years with the most reported accidents were 2016 and 2018. Treatment abandonment was high (56%). Conclusions: The number of accidents involving biological material was high, as was that of victims who abandoned serological follow-up. Prevention and awareness strategies are necessary to change this scenario.