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Surveillance of HIV Exposure and Postexposure Prophylaxis Among Health Care Workers in Greece
Author(s) -
Konte Vasileia,
Nikolopoulos Georgios,
Raftopoulos Vasilios,
Pylli Magda,
Tsiara Chrissa,
Makri Efraxia,
Paraskeva Dimitra
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2007.00642.x
Subject(s) - medicine , post exposure prophylaxis , occupational exposure , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , regimen , health care , occupational medicine , environmental health , emergency medicine , family medicine , economics , economic growth
Objective: Many developed countries have implemented surveillance systems for monitoring occupational exposure to HIV. The aim of the present study was to analyze surveillance data on HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for health care workers (HCWs) in Greece. Design: All data reported to the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention between January 1996 and June 2005 were analyzed. Sample and measurement: 188 reported occupational exposures to HIV were analyzed, retrospectively. Results: Most exposures were in the physicians (37.8%), followed by the nursing personnel (18.6%). Nearly 38% of the HCWs were males and the predominant type of biological material involved in the exposure was blood (74.5%). Two drugs were used for PEP in 23.4% of the HCWs, and 3 drugs in 66.5% of the reported cases. Conclusions: Greek guidelines provide guidance for treating HCWs after occupational exposure to HIV. In our study, antiretroviral treatment, a three‐drug regimen in the majority of the cases, was prescribed after evaluation of specially appointed physicians. The surveillance system of occupational exposure to HIV in HCWs should be further developed and enhanced in order to monitor and evaluate the risk factors surrounding the incidents.