Abstract

LIMA, Bruno Francisco Real de et al. Occupational infection by the hepatitis B virus: risk and prevention measures. Rev. bras. crescimento desenvolv. hum. [online]. 2013, vol.23, n.2, pp. 184-189. ISSN 0104-1282.

INTRODUCTION: infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most serious problems of public health because of the great number of people infected by this etiological agent. OBJECTIVES: to check the knowledge presented by the nursing staff on the mode of transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the resulting damage to human health and to identify the knowledge of the nursing staff on prevention measures used to avoid occupational infection by this virus and, further, to investigate the immunization situation of the nursing staff against HBV. METHODS: a quantitative study conducted in 2008. The sample consisted of 38 numbers of the nursing staff of a Teaching Public Hospital in ABC (São Paulo) a form being used to make the data collection. RESULTS: sexual intercourse was reported by most (24.57 %) of the nursing staff as a mode of transmission of HBV. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was mentioned by 41.54 % of these professionals as a way of avoiding HBV infection. Only 2.63% of participants reported not knowing if some colleague had already been the victim of an accident with drill cutting materials. All the participants in this study had previonsly been immunized against HBV. CONCLUSION: the professionals in this study are prepared for the use of standard precautions.

Keywords : transmission of hepatitis B virus; universal precautions; nursing staff.

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