Resumen

FICA C, Alberto et al. Biological risk accidents among undergraduate healthcare students: Five years experience. Rev. chil. infectol. [online]. 2010, vol.27, n.1, pp.34-39. ISSN 0716-1018.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0716-10182010000100005.

Undergraduate healthcare students are exposed to bloodborne pathogens, and data from developing countries is scarce. We report the experience of a comprehensive program dedicated to the management of this risk. The program includes financial coverage, a 24-hour attention system, HIV, HBV, HCV testing, and free provisión of post-exposure antiretroviral drugs. During 2003-2007, incidence rates of these exposures reached 0.9 per 100 student-years. Events were only observed among medicine, nursing, and midwifery students, with rates highest among nursing students (RR 3.5 IC95 1.93 - 6.51). Cuts andneedle stick injuries predominated (74.7% of accidents). Three students were exposed to HIV patients (1.9%), all of them received prophylactic drugs, infection was discarded after follow up, and also discarded after exposures to HBV or HCV (0.6% of all accidents). Cost per 1000 student-year was less than 2000 USD. Healthcare students are exposed to biological risks during their studies and a comprehensive program is feasible in a developing country.

Palabras clave : Education Medical Undergraduate; Blood-borne pathogens; Occupational exposure; Needlestick injuries; Disease transmission; Nursing; Midwifer.

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