Accidental exposure to blood and/or biological material in healthcare workers Section: Health and quality of life How to quote García Abad I et al. Exposiciones accidentales a sangre y/o material biológico en trabajadores sanitarios. Metas de Enferm dic 2010/ene 2011; 13(10): 6-11 Authors1Isidro García Abad, 2Rafael Almela García, 3Juan Francisco Navarro Gracia, 2Jaime Calle Barreto, 2Gerardo Pérez Torregrosa Position 1 Enfermero. Medicina Preventiva HGU de´Elche. Profesor de la Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU de Elche.2Enfermero. Hospital General Universitario de Elche. 3 Diplomado en Podología. Licenciado en Medicina. Área de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. Profesor en la Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche. Hospital General Universitario de Elche. Contact address Isidro García Abad. Hospital General Universitario de Elche. Servicio de Medicina Preventiva. Camí de L’Almazara, 11. 03203 Elche (Alicante). Contact email: garcia_isiaba@gva.es Abstract Objetive: the epidemiological surveillance of exposure to biological risk in the work place is a fundamental basis for the planning and prioritization of any prevention strategy. The objective is to present the descriptive analysis of the information obtained over a 12 year period (EPINETAC 1997/2008) in the 20th Health Department of Elche (Alicante). Materials and methods: the information obtained from 2.023 surveys on accidental exposures that took place between 01/01/1997 to 31/12/2008 of the EPINETAC project. Recorded data are analysed with the SPSS 15 statistical programme. Results: nurses report 42% of percutaneous accidents; physicians report 14,7% and nursing aids 14,6%. Physicians experience accidents in operating or labour and delivery room in three of every four occasions (75,3%), whereas nurses report that accidents happen mainly in patient rooms (42,3%). Midwives, physicians and resident medical students suffer close to 90% of accidental inoculations during the use of materials. Conclusions: approximately half of accidental exposures reported during this period could have been avoided (accidents that occurred during the use of materials (49,6%) are the only ones that are considered unavoidable). Nurses are the professionals with the highest accidental exposure to blood and biologic fluids. Hollow needles are the most frequently involved material in work-related exposures, and are also associated with a higher transmission risk. Keywords: epidemiological surveillance; blood; SPSS15; accidental inoculationshollow needles Versión en Español Título: Exposiciones accidentales a sangre y/o material biológico en trabajadores sanitarios