Risks of accidental exposure to blood in Tunisian intensive care units
Nakhli M.S.1, Kahloul M.1, Kacem I.2, Guedri S.2, Mhamdi S.1, Mrizak N.2
1Sahloul Hospital, Dept of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Sousse, Tunisia, 2Farhat Hached Hospital, Department of Occupational Medicine, Sousse, Tunisia
Background and Goal of Study: The rapid turnover of staff members, and subsequently sometimes their lack of experience, emergency situations, and the wide diversity of care procedures performed are important factors contributing to the increased risk of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in intensive care units. the purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence and the characteristics of accidental exposure to blood in Tunisian intensive care units. 
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study including all the cases of the accidental exposure to blood declared in the department of Occupational medicine of the teaching Hospital Farhat Hached of Sousse during the year of 2015. 
Results and Discussion: Overall, 109 cases of accidental blood exposure were declared, of which 46 happned in the intensive care units (42,2%). The mean age of the study population was 34.4 ± 10.7 years with a sex ratio of 0.27. The victims were paramedicals in 43.4% of cases, doctors in 31.9% of cases and workers in 17.4% of cases. The vaccination against hepatitis B was complete and correctly done in 68% of the cases. The accident was secondary to a needle stick in 84.8%. The wearing of gloves was noted in 32.6% of the cases. The serological status of the source patient was unknown in 86.9%. Serological surveillance was recommended for 18 patients and only 4 victims had performed surveillance. The immediate management after the accidental blood exposure was consistent with universal recommendations in 43.4% of cases. This compliance with the applicable universal recommendations was significantly higher for staff with less than 5 years´ seniority (p < 0.05).
Conclusion(s): Education, training, the strict application of standard/universal procedures (protective gowns, gloves, masks, glasses, etc…), and also the implementation of local standardized procedures are of paramount importance.