Profile of biological material accidents among medical under graduates and residents

Vigil Sanit Debate, Rio de Janeiro, 2024, v.12: e02191 | Published on: 21/06/2024

Abstract

Introduction: Resident physicians and medical students who suffered occupational accidents involving biological risks can present serious health problems. Objective: To describe occupational accidents involving exposure to biological material among medical undergraduates and residents at the State University of Campinas from 2011 to 2020. Method: This was a retrospective case series study conducted from the records of work accidents involving exposure to biological material that occurred among medical undergraduates and residents. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software, version 9.4. To check the association between the use of personal protective equipment and exposure route, the method Generalized Estimating Equations was used. Results: A total of 1,121 notifications were analyzed, of which 78.5% involved medical residents and 21.5% involved medical undergraduates. Most exposures were due to percutaneous injury (80.1%), the needle with lumen was the main causative agent (37.6%), and 49.0% accidents occurred during surgical procedures or sutures. The operating room and emergency unit had the highest number of accidents. It was evidenced association between accidents that occurred with exposure to the mucous membranes of eyes and non-adherence to eye protection (p<0, 0001). Residents suffered more accidents in the first two years of residency (66.3%), whereas in medical undergraduate students, the prevalence was between the fifth and sixth year of the program (81.9%). Conclusions: Awareness and early education regarding the issue of safety in the work environment should be a priority in medical education, because they provide students with the necessary knowledge to protect themselves from occupational biological hazards.