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Introduction
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| Methodology
| Objectives
Participation
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National surveillance of occupational blood exposure
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Methodology
After each accidental blood contact (AB) among hospital workers,
a questionnaire form has to be filled out and the information will
be entered in the EPINetTM software program. After one year of surveillance,
all coded data are sent to the IPH that centralizes the data for
analysis and benchmarking and that provides feedback of the results
to the hospitals. Participation is voluntary and free of charge
for all acute care hospitals in Belgium (start 1 June 2003). The
minimal surveillance period is 1 year.
An occupational exposure is an accident associated with exposure
to blood bloody fluids, other body fluids). Modes of exposure include
percutaneous injuries, mucous membrane exposures, non-intact skin
exposures, and bites.
The hospital can choose between a complete ("full")
version of the questionnaire form and a simplified ("light")
version (see section "Download"). The latter allows collecting
only the most essential data. Data to be collected in the "full"
or "light" version are shown in this table.
The questionnaire forms are approved by EPINet™
USA.
Denominator data are collected on a separate form at the end of
the surveillance period. These yearly data are necessary for calculating
a number of indicators (e.g. number of needlestick injuries per
100 occupied beds, number of needlestick injuries per 100 FTE nurses,
etc.) and for comparing indicators between hospitals.
Data are encoded in the hospital in a Microsoft®Access®
application (EPINet™). The software packet can be obtained
free of charge by contacting Eva Leens, project coordinator (+32
2 642 57 45). The software allows generating standard reports immediately
after encoding the data. Data are sent on a yearly basis to the
IPH for analysis and benchmarking.
(EL 031030)
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