Occupationally acquired infectious diseases among health care workers in Brazil: use of Internet tools to improve management, prevention, and surveillance.

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.