Infortuni a rischio di malattie a trasmissione ematica nel personale ostetrico: analisi di una casistica ospedaliera

Health care workers (HCW) are at high risk of accidental contact with biological fluids. In spite of extensive recom mendations concerning HCW accidents continue to be frequent and seem to be related to specific factors. To evaluate the factors influencing risk of blood-borne infections in a particular category of HCW--obstetricians, and obtain information useful for prevention guidelines. Data were obtained from the exposure registers of nursing and of the Emergency Ward staff where HCWfirst report after accidental contact with biological fluids. Accidents with risk of blood-borne diseases were more frequent in obstetricians with lower job seniority. They usually occurred between 8 a.m. and 4p. m., in the patient's room. The hands and face (particularly the eyes) were the body parts more often involved In almost half of the accidents, the worker was not wearing any personal protective device. Although some contacts were with infected blood, no seroconversion occurred. Obstetricians are at high risk of contact with biological fluids. Prevention requires a global strategy including the availability of protective and safety devices, as well as worker education, especially concerning the use of such devices, the application of the universal rules of prevention and the improvement of risk awareness. An adequate post-exposure management of accidents in also required

Rischio di malattie a trasmissione ematica nel personale ostetrico: aggiornamento della casistica pavese

Lo studio esamina la frequenza e le modalità degli infortuni a rischio di malattie ematogene occorsi al personale ostetrico del Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia dal 1997 al 2010. In questo periodo sono stati segnalati 74 incidenti (47 esposizioni percutanee e 27 mucocutanee), irregolarmente distribuiti nel corso degli anni, coinvolgenti 52 ostetriche strutturate e 22 studentesse. Tali infortuni sono avvenuti prevalentemente di giorno (turno 8-16), nella stanza della paziente o in sala parto, interessando mani e volto (soprattutto gli occhi). La manipolazione impropria di aghi e taglienti, e il non corretto uso dei mezzi di protezione individuale, sono risultati fattori causali assai frequenti. Nonostante 23 delle 74 pazienti fon e fossero potenzialmente infettanti (e 10 tra le operatrici infortunate non avessero copertura vaccinale contro l’epatite B), non si è verificata alcuna sieroconversione. Il personale ostetrico si conferma categoria professionale ad alto rischio biologico. Tuttavia, la casistica offre aspetti incoraggianti circa l’efficacia delle strategie preventive recentemente introdotte nell’ospedale (anche per effetto del D.Lgs. 81/2008), comprendenti valutazione del rischio, formazione e informazione, gestione razionale dei rifiuti, uso di protezioni personali, follow-up e profilassi farmacologica post-esposizione

Characteristics and outcomes of vaccinated and nonvaccinated patients hospitalized in a single Italian hub for COVID-19 during the Delta and Omicron waves in Northern Italy

We compared the characteristics and outcomes of vaccinated and nonvaccinated patients hospitalized with COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough infections with the alpha variant are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic among health care workers

Vaccine breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection has been monitored in 3720 healthcare workers receiving 2 doses of BNT162b2. SARS-CoV-2 infection is detected in 33 subjects, with a 100-day cumulative incidence of 0.93%. Vaccine protection against acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection is 83% (95%CI: 58-93%) in the overall population and 93% (95%CI: 69-99%) in SARS-CoV-2-experienced subjects, when compared with a non-vaccinated control group from the same Institution, in which SARS-CoV-2 infection occurs in 20/346 subjects (100-day cumulative incidence: 5.78%). The infection is symptomatic in 16 (48%) vaccinated subjects vs 17 (85%) controls (p = 0.01). All analyzed patients, in whom the amount of viral RNA was sufficient for genome sequencing, results infected by the alpha variant. Antibody and T-cell responses are not reduced in subjects with breakthrough infection. Evidence of virus transmission, determined by contact tracing, is observed in two (6.1%) cases. This real-world data support the protective effect of BNT162b2 vaccine. A triple antigenic exposure, such as two-dose vaccine schedule in experienced subjects, may confer a higher protection