[Protection of hospital personnel against risks of exposure to blood].

Exposures to blood are frequent during health care, invasive nurse procedures (phlebotomy, catheterisation) and in the operating theatre. They carry a risk of infection by blood-born pathogens, especially viral (human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses). There are many measures for the protection of health care personnel which must be known. Improved organisation of work, use of safety and appropriate devices, implementation of universal precautions, and local surveillance of exposures are essential to prevent occupational exposure in health care settings. If, despite prevention, an injury occurs, immediate measures have to be taken in order to decrease the risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission.