Work accidents with biological material with health professionals in Brazilian hospitals

Introduction: The occupational accident (OA) can be characterized as an accident resulting from the exercise of work in the service of a public or private institution, which can cause permanent or temporary physical injury or permanent disability, with consequent loss or reduction of the capacity for work. Biological risk is the main form of exposure of the professional, and the main form of exposure of the health professional to biological risks occurs when there is direct or indirect manipulation of biological material (BM), which can contribute to the transmission of pathogens and, in this way, bring several problems to the contaminated individuals. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the national studies produced in the last 5 years that address accidents and exposure to biological material in a hospital environment. Methodology: A narrative literature review was carried out in a 5 years period, excluding articles that did not address the topic, articles written in a language other than Portuguese, studies conducted outside the Brazilian context, and any publication that was not peer-reviewed. Results and Discussion: The articles analyzed exposed the Brazilian reality, showing that the exposure to biological material is, in most cases, by contact with blood and biological accidents are related, in most cases, to the manipulation of puncturing materials. Re-encapsulation of needles was the main type of action that resulted in accidents. In relation to professionals, negligence, fatigue and distraction on the part of the professional, as well as the inappropriate use of personal protective equipment and work overload were the most cited points. Conclusion: The work environments involved in the studies were generally described as unfavorable to workers' health, mainly because they added innumerable intervening factors, such as the technological gap and the lack of maintenance of the instruments of work, precarious ways of organizing work, lack personal protective equipment in adequate quantity and quality. The training is, in general, performed, but it is important to develop the initial training program and continuing education institutions and taxation of companies that do not comply with regulatory mandates for the prevention of occupational accidents. Adequate working conditions, personal protective equipment in adequate quantity and quality are also important factors that must be demanded from health institutions.