Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of body fluids’ exposure. Objective: The objective of this study was to study the incidence of occupational body fluid exposures in HCW at a tertiary hospital and largest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) center in Mexico. Method: Data on sociodemo...
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2025-04-01
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| Series: | Revista de Investigación Clínica |
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| author | Karla A. Romero-Mora María Gómez-Palacio-Schjetnan Laura L. Jiménez-Sánchez Claudia Alvarado-de la Barrera Akio Murakami-Ogasawara Samuel E. Schulz-Medina Santiago Ávila-Ríos |
| author_facet | Karla A. Romero-Mora María Gómez-Palacio-Schjetnan Laura L. Jiménez-Sánchez Claudia Alvarado-de la Barrera Akio Murakami-Ogasawara Samuel E. Schulz-Medina Santiago Ávila-Ríos |
| author_sort | Karla A. Romero-Mora |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of body fluids’ exposure. Objective: The objective of this study was to study the incidence of occupational body fluid exposures in HCW at a tertiary hospital and largest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) center in Mexico. Method: Data on sociodemographics, exposure factors, and vaccination status were collected from questionnaires of HCWs self-reporting exposures (January 2013-December 2022). Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology data were retrieved from the laboratory platform. Descriptive statistics and variable associations were analyzed. Results: Four hundred and eighty-two exposures occurred, 311 in women (64.5%). Exposure incidence was 19.09/1000 person-years; 80% were percutaneous; and 20% were splashes. Median age of exposed HCWs was 21 years (standard deviation = 9.65). Nurses were the most exposed (n = 172, 35.6%), mainly in patients room (n = 223, 46%). About 40.5% of HCW had protective antibody titers to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs). Self-reported vaccination status and protective anti-HBs titers had poor concordance (kappa = 0.02). One hundred and ninety-seven HCW required HIV postexposure prophylaxis (40.8%) with no seroconversions. Exposures were highest in 2020 (78 cases, p = 0.001 vs. all years). Conclusion: A high proportion of HCW lacked protective anti-HBs titers. Increased occupational exposures during the COVID-19 pandemic underline the need for standard precautions, HBV immunization, staff training, and post-exposure protocols to enhance pandemics preparedness. (REV INVEST CLIN. [AHEAD OF PRINT])
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| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0034-8376 2564-8896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Revista de Investigación Clínica |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ddeeed6c3f446d39fc3a809cbeca21a2025-08-20T02:13:53ZengPermanyerRevista de Investigación Clínica0034-83762564-88962025-04-0177210.24875/RIC.24000224Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022Karla A. Romero-Mora0María Gómez-Palacio-Schjetnan1Laura L. Jiménez-Sánchez2Claudia Alvarado-de la Barrera3Akio Murakami-Ogasawara4Samuel E. Schulz-Medina5Santiago Ávila-Ríos6Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Mexico City, MexicoInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Mexico City, MexicoInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Mexico City, MexicoResearch Center on Infection Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, MexicoInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Mexico City, MexicoInstituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Mexico City, MexicoResearch Center on Infection Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, MexicoBackground: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of body fluids’ exposure. Objective: The objective of this study was to study the incidence of occupational body fluid exposures in HCW at a tertiary hospital and largest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) center in Mexico. Method: Data on sociodemographics, exposure factors, and vaccination status were collected from questionnaires of HCWs self-reporting exposures (January 2013-December 2022). Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology data were retrieved from the laboratory platform. Descriptive statistics and variable associations were analyzed. Results: Four hundred and eighty-two exposures occurred, 311 in women (64.5%). Exposure incidence was 19.09/1000 person-years; 80% were percutaneous; and 20% were splashes. Median age of exposed HCWs was 21 years (standard deviation = 9.65). Nurses were the most exposed (n = 172, 35.6%), mainly in patients room (n = 223, 46%). About 40.5% of HCW had protective antibody titers to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs). Self-reported vaccination status and protective anti-HBs titers had poor concordance (kappa = 0.02). One hundred and ninety-seven HCW required HIV postexposure prophylaxis (40.8%) with no seroconversions. Exposures were highest in 2020 (78 cases, p = 0.001 vs. all years). Conclusion: A high proportion of HCW lacked protective anti-HBs titers. Increased occupational exposures during the COVID-19 pandemic underline the need for standard precautions, HBV immunization, staff training, and post-exposure protocols to enhance pandemics preparedness. (REV INVEST CLIN. [AHEAD OF PRINT]) https://www.clinicalandtranslationalinvestigation.com/frame_esp.php?id=525Blood-borne pathogens. Body fluids. Human immunodeficiency virus. Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis C virus. Occupational exposure of healthcare personnel. |
| spellingShingle | Karla A. Romero-Mora María Gómez-Palacio-Schjetnan Laura L. Jiménez-Sánchez Claudia Alvarado-de la Barrera Akio Murakami-Ogasawara Samuel E. Schulz-Medina Santiago Ávila-Ríos Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022 Revista de Investigación Clínica Blood-borne pathogens. Body fluids. Human immunodeficiency virus. Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis C virus. Occupational exposure of healthcare personnel. |
| title | Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022 |
| title_full | Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022 |
| title_fullStr | Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022 |
| title_short | Increased Occupational Exposure to Body Fluids in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective study from 2013 to 2022 |
| title_sort | increased occupational exposure to body fluids in healthcare workers during the covid 19 pandemic a retrospective study from 2013 to 2022 |
| topic | Blood-borne pathogens. Body fluids. Human immunodeficiency virus. Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis C virus. Occupational exposure of healthcare personnel. |
| url | https://www.clinicalandtranslationalinvestigation.com/frame_esp.php?id=525 |
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