High risk for occupational exposure to HIV and utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis in a teaching hospital in Pune, India
2008

Occupational Exposure to HIV and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis in Pune, India

Sample size: 1955 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Amita Gupta, Shuchi Anand, Jayagowri Sastry, Anandini Krisagar, Anita Basavaraj, Shreepad M Bhat, Nikhil Gupte, Robert C Bollinger, Arjun L Kakrani

Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Hypothesis

What is the rate and characteristics of occupational exposure to HIV and the utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis among healthcare workers in a teaching hospital in Pune, India?

Conclusion

Housestaff are at high risk for bloodborne exposures, but the implementation of a PEP program led to a decrease in high-risk exposures over time.

Supporting Evidence

  • 557 exposures were reported by 484 healthcare workers.
  • Interns had the highest annual incidence of 47.0 per 100 person-years.
  • Only 55.1% of exposures involved the use of personal protective equipment.

Takeaway

Doctors and nurses in a hospital can accidentally get exposed to HIV, but with the right programs, we can help keep them safe and reduce these accidents.

Methodology

Data on occupational exposures and their management were collected from January 2003 to December 2005, and incidence rates were examined using logistic regression.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported data from healthcare workers.

Limitations

The study was conducted at a single hospital, which may limit generalizability, and underreporting of exposures may have occurred.

Participant Demographics

Median age of exposed healthcare workers was 23 years, with 53.2% male; most exposures were reported by interns.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p = 0.002

Confidence Interval

95% CI 1.09–1.42

Statistical Significance

p < 0.01

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2334-8-142

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