Occupational exposure of health care personnel to hepatitis B and hepatitis C: prevention and surveillance strategies

Clin Liver Dis. 2010 Feb;14(1):23-36, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2009.11.001.

Abstract

Ensuring the safety of personnel working in health care environments can be challenging and requires a multifaceted approach to target reductions in occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C. This article reviews the epidemiology of occupational exposures to hepatitis B and hepatitis C in health care personnel in hospital settings. The nature and likelihood of risk to health care personnel are evaluated along with estimates of seroconversion risk. The review focuses on prevention programs and available surveillance programs to aid in monitoring and reducing occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Health Personnel
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B / transmission*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis C / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional* / prevention & control
  • Needlestick Injuries / epidemiology
  • Needlestick Injuries / prevention & control
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Population Surveillance
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vaccination