A review of occupational exposure to blood and blood products in medical students in a South African university

Abstract

Background: There is a significant risk of a medical student acquiring a blood-borne pathogen following occupational exposure to blood and other bodily fluids from infected patients in the healthcare setting. Internationally and nationally, interventions have been implemented in medical schools to reduce students’ risk of acquiring a blood-borne pathogen. Few studies in South Africa have evaluated such interventions.

Method: The aim of this study was to review the incidence and management of occupational exposure to blood and blood products in final-year medical students. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional. The study participants were final-year medical students. Data were collected using questionnaires and analysed with the SPSS® programme.

Results: A quarter of the participants reported occupational exposure. The risk appeared to be higher in certain medical departments and for female students. Some of the students did not receive a risk assessment which is part of university protocol. Over the study period, the number of students accessing post-exposure prophylaxis increased, and students received this within a shorter time after exposure.

Conclusion: The data reflect findings from other studies which show that medical students are at risk of occupational exposure. It is of concern in a setting of high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence that some of the students who sustained occupational exposure did not report it to their supervisors. Although there has been an improvement in student access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), ongoing training for students and their supervisors is required. Further important research, using quantitative and qualitative methods, is also needed.