Evaluation of risk and protective factors for work-related bite injuries to veterinary technicians certified in Minnesota

• Autores: Leslie D. Nordgren
• Localización: JAVMA: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, ISSN-e 0003-1488, Vol. 245, Nº. 4, 2014, págs. 434-440
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objective—To identify risk and protective factors for work-related bite injuries among veterinary technicians certified in Minnesota.

    Design—Nested case-control study.

    Sample—868 certified veterinary technicians (CVTs).

    Procedures—A questionnaire was mailed to CVTs who previously participated in a survey regarding work-related injuries and did (cases; 301 surveys sent) or did not (controls; 567) report qualifying work-related animal bite injuries in the preceding 12 months. Descriptive statistics were summarized. Demographic and work-related variables for the month preceding the bite injury (for cases) or a randomly selected month (controls) were assessed with univariate analysis (489 CVTs) and multivariate analysis of a subset of 337 CVTs who worked in small or mixed mostly small animal facilities.

    Results—Responses were received from 176 case and 313 control CVTs. For the subset of 337 CVTs, risk of bite injury was higher for those < 25 years of age (OR, 3.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84 to 7.94) than for those ≥ 35 years of age, for those who had worked < 5 years (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.63 to 6.45) versus ≥ 10 years in any veterinary facility, and for those who handled ≥ 5 species/d (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.06 to 3.74) versus < 3 species/d. Risk was lower for CVTs who handled < 10 versus ≥ 20 animals/d (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.71).

    Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Several work-related factors were associated with the risk of work-related bite injury to CVTs. These findings may serve as a basis for development of intervention efforts and future research regarding work-related injuries among veterinary staff.

    Animal bites, including dog bites, to humans have been recognized as an important public health problem.1,2 More than 300,000 patients are treated for dog bites in hospital emergency departments annually, with associated medical costs > $1 million/y.2,3 In addition, there are also costs associated with medical insurance, workers’ compensation, lost wages, sick leave–associated business costs, and physical and emotional damage to injured persons. Among bite-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments, aerobic and anaerobic infections were reported in 24 of 50 (48%) cases associated with dog bites and 36 of 57 (63%) cases associated with cat bites.4 In a study by the CDC,2 work-related dog bite injuries accounted for an estimated 8% of dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments.

    Previous studies5–13 have found that cat and dog bites were among the most common injuries to veterinarians and their staff and that most injuries primarily involved the arms or hands. Yet very little is known about the risk factors associated with work-related bite injuries to veterinary clinic staff, including CVTs. Veterinary technicians have direct contact with animals when collecting specimens, providing specialized nursing care, preparing animals for surgery, assisting in diagnostic surgical and medical procedures, performing or preparing for radiographic imaging, and providing dental prophylaxis. More than 80,000 CVTs across the United States are at potential risk of traumatic occupational injuries,14 which can be costly in terms of medical expenses, lost work time, or career loss because of a disability. The prevalence and severity of work-related injuries to veterinary technicians certified in Minnesota were described in a previous study,15 in addition to potential risk factors. Developing appropriate bite injury prevention and control measures requires a better understanding of the risks specific to CVTs. Consequently, the purpose of the study reported here was to identify factors associated with work-related bite injuries to CVTs that can serve as a basis for development of intervention efforts.