Epinet 

Uniform Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Report
43 Hospitals, 1997

Total Cases: 849
Total Average Daily Census: 8,714

JOB CATEGORY
M.D. (attending/staff) 25 3%
M.D. (intern/resident/fellow) 59 7%
Medical student 4 0%
Nurse RN/LPN 435 51%
Nursing student 10 1%
Respiratory therapist 24 3%
Surgery attendant 13 2%
Other attendant 70 8%
Phlebotomist/venipuncture/I.V. team 13 2%
Clinical laboratory worker 32 4%
Technologist (non-lab) 46 5%
Dentist 0 0%
Dental hygienist 0 0%
Housekeeper/laundry worker 8 1%
Paramedic 7 1%
Other Student 3 0%
Other 99 12%
( 1 missing)


PLACE OF OCCURRENCE
Where did the injury occur in the institution?
Patient room 347 41%
Outside patient room 20 2%
Emergency department 87 10%
Intensive/critical care unit 100 12%
Operating room 83 10%
Outpatient clinic/office 24 3%
Blood bank 4 0%
Venipuncture 2 0%
Dialysis facility 9 1%
Procedure room 56 7%
Clinical laboratories 31 4%
Autopsy/pathology 4 0%
Service/utility area 5 1%
Labor and delivery 9 1%
Home 7 1%
Other 60 7%
( 1 missing)


SOURCE PATIENT
Was the source patient known?
Yes 800 94%
No 29 3%
Unknown 10 1%
N/A 6 1%
( 4 missing)


BODY FLUIDS
Which body fluids were involved in the exposure?
Blood or blood product 601 71%
Vomit 35 4%
CSF 5 1%
Peritoneal fluid 10 1%
Pleural fluid 10 1%
Amniotic fluid 13 2%
Urine 60 7%
Other 183 22%


EXPOSED PART
Was the exposed part:
Intact skin 411 48%
Non-intact skin 175 21%
Eye(s) 451 53%
Nose 58 7%
Mouth 107 13%
Other 11 1%


TYPE OF EXPOSURE
Did the blood or body fluid:
Touch unprotected skin 752 89%
Touch skin through gap between protective garments 64 8%
Soak through protective garment 26 3%
Soak through clothing 54 6%


PROTECTIVE ITEMS WORN
Which protective items were worn at the time of the exposure?
Single pair latex/vinyl gloves 511 60%
Double pair latex/vinyl gloves 51 6%
Goggles 32 4%
Eyeglasses 99 12%
Faceshield 28 3%
Surgical mask 104 12%
Surgical gown 105 12%
Plastic apron 11 1%
Lab coat, cloth 64 8%
Lab coat, other 9 1%
Other item 35 4%


RESULT
Was the exposure the result of:
Direct patient exposure 458 54%
Specimen container leaked/spilled 64 8%
Specimen container broke 14 2%
IV tubing/bag/pump leaked 66 8%
Other body fluid container spilled/leaked 60 7%
Touched contaminated equipment 18 2%
Touched contaimnated drapes/sheets, etc. 11 1%
Unknown 4 0%
Other 148 17%
( 4 missing)


TIME IN CONTACT
For how long was the blood or body fluid in contact with your skin or mucous membranes?
Less than 5 minutes 674 79%
5-14 minutes 99 12%
15 minutes - 1 hour 45 5%
More than 1 hour 22 3%
( 9 missing)


QUANTITY
Estimate the quantity of blood/body fluid that came in contact with your skin or mucous membranes:
Small amount (up to 5 cc) 738 87%
Moderate amount (5-50 cc) 78 9%
Large amount (more than 50 cc) 27 3%
( 6 missing)


BODY PART
Right hand, back 92
Right hand, front 82
Left hand, front 61
Left hand, back 46
Right arm 64
Left arm 37
Head 841
Chest 37
Back 1
Mid-body 7
Right leg 17
Left leg 13
Right foot 5
Left foot 2


OSHA
Is this incident OSHA reportable?
Yes 156 18%
No 587 69%
( 105 missing)


For those cases that are OSHA reportable:
Cumulative number of days away from work: 0
Cumulative number of days of restricted work activity: 0