Hospitals are failing to manage the occupational exposure of their
healthcare staff to blood and body fluids, according to doctors at London’s St
Thomas’ Hospital.
Out-of-hours management of occupational body fluid exposures, particularly
when it came to prescribing post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, was
inconsistent with in-hours practice.
A total of 177 body fluid exposures were reported over a six-month period,
109 of which were initially assessed in the OH department and 68 in A&E.
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Of those originally assessed in A&E, only 21 attended the OH department
for follow-up.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002; 59: 415-418.
