Epinet 

Uniform Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Report
36 Hospitals, 1998

Total Cases: 753
Total Average Daily Census: 8,181

JOB CATEGORY
M.D. (attending/staff) 31 4%
M.D. (intern/resident/fellow) 46 6%
Medical student 2 0%
Nurse RN/LPN 384 51%
Nursing student 6 1%
Respiratory therapist 33 4%
Surgery attendant 14 2%
Other attendant 53 7%
Phlebotomist/venipuncture/I.V. team 10 1%
Clinical laboratory worker 25 3%
Technologist (non-lab) 32 4%
Dentist 0 0%
Dental hygienist 0 0%
Housekeeper/laundry worker 8 1%
Paramedic 10 1%
Other Student 7 1%
Other 88 12%
( 4 missing)


PLACE OF OCCURRENCE
Where did the injury occur in the institution?
Patient room 311 41%
Outside patient room 18 2%
Emergency department 67 9%
Intensive/critical care unit 101 13%
Operating room 69 9%
Outpatient clinic/office 23 3%
Blood bank 3 0%
Venipuncture 0 0%
Dialysis facility 4 1%
Procedure room 50 7%
Clinical laboratories 32 4%
Autopsy/pathology 1 0%
Service/utility area 6 1%
Labor and delivery 13 2%
Home 6 1%
Other 41 5%
( 8 missing)


SOURCE PATIENT
Was the source patient known?
Yes 707 94%
No 24 3%
Unknown 10 1%
N/A 4 1%
( 8 missing)


BODY FLUIDS
Which body fluids were involved in the exposure?
Blood or blood product 518 69%
Vomit 24 3%
CSF 4 1%
Peritoneal fluid 12 2%
Pleural fluid 6 1%
Amniotic fluid 14 2%
Urine 51 7%
Other 199 26%


EXPOSED PART
Was the exposed part:
Intact skin 327 43%
Non-intact skin 138 18%
Eye(s) 411 55%
Nose 38 5%
Mouth 76 10%
Other 16 2%


TYPE OF EXPOSURE
Did the blood or body fluid:
Touch unprotected skin 652 87%
Touch skin through gap between protective garments 50 7%
Soak through protective garment 10 1%
Soak through clothing 44 6%


PROTECTIVE ITEMS WORN
Which protective items were worn at the time of the exposure?
Single pair latex/vinyl gloves 472 63%
Double pair latex/vinyl gloves 47 6%
Goggles 11 1%
Eyeglasses 97 13%
Faceshield 18 2%
Surgical mask 90 12%
Surgical gown 89 12%
Plastic apron 7 1%
Lab coat, cloth 62 8%
Lab coat, other 8 1%
Other item 107 14%


RESULT
Was the exposure the result of:
Direct patient exposure 404 54%
Specimen container leaked/spilled 60 8%
Specimen container broke 11 1%
IV tubing/bag/pump leaked 53 7%
Other body fluid container spilled/leaked 49 7%
Touched contaminated equipment 22 3%
Touched contaimnated drapes/sheets, etc. 5 1%
Unknown 3 0%
Other 138 18%
( 8 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 583 77%
5-14 minutes 104 14%
15 minutes - 1 hour 33 4%
More than 1 hour 20 3%
( 13 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) 664 88%
Moderate amount (5-50 cc) 59 8%
Large amount (more than 50 cc) 17 2%
( 11 missing)


BODY PART
Right hand, back 73
Right hand, front 58
Left hand, front 51
Left hand, back 36
Right arm 43
Left arm 39
Head 742
Chest 28
Back 0
Mid-body 17
Right leg 13
Left leg 11
Right foot 4
Left foot 3


OSHA
Is this incident OSHA reportable?
Yes 114 15%
No 568 75%
( 71 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