THE OCCUPATIONAL CONTACT OF THE HEALTH-CARE WORKERS AND HIV-PREVENTION

The objectives were to assess the existing system for recording and management of the health care workers (HCWs) - victims of exposure with blood or other body fluids (BBF) of HIV-infected patients in the health care settings of Sumy region. Reporting, management and analysis of injuries with needles and sharp instruments (NSI) were held in the Regional Center for Prevention and Control of AIDS (CCPA) using EPINet. The program was developed by the Becton-Dickinson (BD) in cooperation with Dr. Janin Jager, Virginia Univ.Results. Besides, Dr. Janin Jager has kindly provided the software. The analyses of incidents that occurred in the medical care settings with HCWs showed that the most dangerous ones were those with the skin damage. The extremely low level of such incidents in the area is a result of underreporting. As might be expected, most NSIs occur with the nurses. Qualifications and professional experience of the HCWs do not affect the level of incidence. Seroconversion among the HCWs as a result of occupational transmission was not observed. Complete reporting of NSIs is a prerequisite for the identification of risky procedures and to ensure optimal management and treatment of the affected health care personnel. The accident insurance doctor must possess a high degree of interdisciplinary competence in order to treat NSI effectively. A list of measures, the implementation of which will reduce the risk of occupational transmission of HIV from patients to workers is proposed.