[Retrospective survey on epidemiologic monitoring of accidents due to professional exposure to biological agents in A.O.U. "G. Martino" of Messina, Italy)]. / Indagine retrospettiva sul monitoraggio epidemiologico degli infortuni biologici da esposizione professionale nel- i'A.O.U. "G. Martino" di Messina.

The management of healthcare professionals exposed to biological material which may potentially be contaminated with HIV HBVand HCV viruses, is of vital importance in acquiring precise epidemiological data regarding the type and means of exposure, and the efficacy or failure to apply recommended preventive measures. This will make it possible to assess over time which measures need to be implemented or improved. For these reasons we decided to analyze cases of occupational exposure to biological risk occurring in the University Hospital in Messina between 1998 and 2002. Our study highlighted in particular that the most frequently affected category was that of professional nurses (46.74%) and that only 31.72% of the healthcare workers who tested negative for HBsAb were administered vaccine prophylaxis also after the accident. Moreover, it emerged that there is the need to increase the amount and quality of information made available, by changing report forms, with the aim of identifying problems and risky behavior and procedures, and thus make ways to ensure the continued improvement of the accident prevention and management programmes. In fact, in the accident reporting procedure used, it was not possible to specify the precise way in which the accidents happened.

[Knowledge of disinfection practices and behaviour of the nursing staff at a hospital]. / Conoscenza delle pratiche di disinfezione e attitudini comportamentali del personale infermieristico di un'azienda ospedaliera.

The authors have carried a study on the knowledge of disinfection practices and the behaviour in operating room in order to control and prevent nosocomial infections. It is necessary for high percent of head nurses and nurses to have guidelines for the disinfection/sterilization procedures with the aim to avoid infections, but a large number of subjects don't know the correct procedures. The knowledge of a correct behaviour in the operating room is greater, although many of nursing staff don't wear the overshoes and the protective glasses. The statistical analysis show that nurses and the subjects with high degree have a greater knowledge of problems. It is important the planning of training and retraining courses directed to the improvement of technical knowledge and behaviour.