Accidental exposures to blood in the intensive care unit: epidemiology, prevention and management

Abstract

Accidental exposures to blood are common in healthcare settings. Intensive care units have a higher frequency of nurse and medical acts and thus of accidental exposures to blood with increased risk of blood-borne agents transmission. Prevention relies mainly on a decrease in the frequency of accidental blood exposures, and in some cases, in the use of post-exposure prophylaxis.