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Am J Infect Control. 2007 May;35(4):267-70.
Occupationally acquired infectious diseases among health care workers in Brazil: use of Internet tools to improve management, prevention, and surveillance.
Rapparini C, Feijo Barroso P, Saraceni V, Artioli Machado A, Cortes Fernandes G.
Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Preventive Medicine, Hospital Universitario Clementino Fraga Filho, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. rapparini@riscobiologico.org
BACKGROUND: Education is a major component of prevention strategies to reduce the risk of occupational transmission of bloodborne pathogens to health care personnel. METHODS: This study describes the results of an Internet-based project, « Projeto Riscobiologico.org », for which the main objectives are to disseminate information in the Portuguese language about occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens through a mailing list and Web site as well as to increase case reports of these events in Brazil. RESULTS: The mailing list expanded quickly with a total of 2078 participants (from 337 different cities and all Brazilian states), and 5613 messages were exchanged over a 5-year period. Mean length of participation was almost 2 years (697 days). Most of the participants (74%) reported that they frequently manage occupational exposures. Nevertheless, results showed an important lack of basic knowledge regarding this issue. In contrast with the high participation in the mailing list, a small number of institutions started to participate in the voluntary surveillance system. CONCLUSION: The Internet can be used as a tool to increase knowledge and improve practices in the prevention of occupational bloodborne pathogen exposures. In addition, it may represent a unique opportunity to implement a national surveillance system.