Surveillance of blood-exposure incidents in French healthcare facilities. AES-Raisin Network, France: 2013–2014 Results

Background: Accidents involving exposure to blood and other body fluids (AEFs) are a major occupational hazard for healthcare professionals. Objective: To monitor AEFs in French healthcare facilities. Methods: Participation by healthcare facilities in this surveillance network (AES-Raisin) is voluntary and anonymous. BAEs were documented using a standardized questionnaire that records the nature, circumstances (mechanism, type of device, infectious status of the source), and follow-up for each BAE. The occurrence of HAIs was reported in relation to the number of hospital beds, the number of healthcare professionals (in full-time equivalents (FTE)), and the use of certain medical devices. Results: 19,811 AEs in 2013 and 17,927 AEs in 2014 were documented in the 1,056 healthcare facilities participating in the surveillance network in 2013 and in the 1,087 facilities participating in 2014, respectively. The overall incidence of AEs was 6.3 per 100 beds in 2013 and 5.7 in 2014, ranging from 1.4 to 16.3 per 100 FTE depending on professional category. For all participating healthcare facilities and in the stable cohort of 275 hospitals that participated every year from 2008 to 2014, the AES incidence rates per 100 beds decreased significantly by 23.0% and 19.2%, respectively (p<10⁻⁴). Needlestick injuries were the most common cause of reported AES. Numbering 14,139 in 2014—78.8% of all AES—they were primarily associated with puncture injuries (n=12,113), half of which were related to needle handling (48.8%), which remains the main type of reported exposure. Within the stable cohort, compliance with glove use in healthcare facilities reporting AEs rose from 68.6% in 2008 to 74.6% in 2014. In contrast, the availability of sharps containers remained stable, at around 71%. In 2014, the AIS was still a preventable event through adherence to standard precautions in 29.8% of cases. Within the stable cohort between 2008 and 2014, a significant decrease in the proportion of preventable NSPs was observed (from 40.4% in 2008 to 33.1% in 2014), as well as an increasing use of safety devices. Conclusions: The 2013–2014 results from the AES-Raisin network suggest that the safety of healthcare professionals’ practice has greatly improved over the past seven years in France. This surveillance has provided a better understanding of adverse events, an essential step in guiding prevention strategies (organizational and technical measures, training). These prevention efforts should be continued to further optimize safety in healthcare practice.

Author(s): Reseau AES-Raisin

Publishing year: 2016

Pages: 94 p.

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