Management and Attitudes of Patients Victims Accidental Exposure to Blood at the Day Care Unit of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé (Cameroon) from January 2007 to December 2016

Abstract

Background: There is little data on Accidental Exposure to Blood (AEB) in Cameroon.Objectives: to learn about the management of AEB among professional and non-professional patient at the day care unit of the Central Hospital of YaoundéMethod: This was a 10-year retrospective study in which data concerning socio-demographic characteristics, exposure and consultation circumstances, measures taken after the accident, the status of the source patient and of the patient consultant and the prescribed ARV protocol were analyzed.Results: Six hundred files were selected, including 49.2% professional exposure and 50.2% non-professional. The mean age was 30 ± 9.7 years with extremes of 11 and 67 years. The main circumstances of AEB were needle stick (professional AEB) and rape (non-professional AEB). Prophylaxis with triple antiretroviral therapy has been prescribed to all patients.Conclusion: Non-professional and professional AEB are found in equivalent proportions in our series. Triple antiretroviral therapy was prescribed for all patients. Staff awareness policies could be developed to respect universal precautionary measures.