Occupational Health Update: Focus on Preventing the Acquisition of Infections with Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Postexposure Prophylaxis

• Autores: David J. Weber, William A. Rutala
• Localización: Infectious disease clinics of North America, ISSN 0891-5520, Vol. 30, Nº. 3, 2016 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare, Part 1: Facility Planning and Management), págs. 729-757
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Health care personnel are commonly exposed to infectious agents via sharp injuries (eg, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus), direct patient care (eg, pertussis and meningococcus), and the contaminated environment (eg, Clostridium difficile). An effective occupational program is a key aspect of preventing acquisition of an infection by offering the following: (1) education of health care personnel regarding proper handling of sharps, early identification and isolation of potentially infectious patients, and hand hygiene; (2) assuring immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases; and, (3) immediate availability of a medical evaluation after a nonprotected exposure to an infectious disease.