[Management of accidental exposure to blood in the Treichville teaching hospital, Abidjan (Côte-d'Ivoire)].

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess care and preventive measures for accidental exposure to blood (AEB) in Abidjan.
Methods: A retrospective study of all AEB reported in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Center of the Treichville University Hospital was made between January 2000 and December 2005. Epidemiology, management, clinical and biological post-exposure follow-up were analyzed.
Results: One hundred eighty-two AEB were managed over 6 years (151 needlesticks, 14 ocular projections of blood, 12 cuts, and 5 mucocutaneous exposure to blood). 94 men (51.6%) and 68 women (48.4%) were included [sex ratio 1.4] mean age 33.8 years+/-7.4 years. Physicians (29.1%), nurses (19.8%), assistant nurse (12.1%), and medical students (11.4%) were the professional categories which declared most accidents. Among them, only 51.1% was correctly vaccinated against hepatitis B. The average delay of consultation was 26.5 hours (1-240 hours), and 82.9% of victims consulted before the 48th hour. Antiretroviral prophylaxis was prescribed to 151 patients among whom 45% with bitherapy (Zidovudine and Lamivudine), and 55% with HAART including an antiprotease. Only 60 patients had one actual month of treatment. Despite the weak follow-up, no case of HIV seroconversion was reported 6 month after exposure.
Conclusion: This work underlines once again the high frequency of AEB in Abidjan despite a under reporting, and calls for the implementation of a policy to train health care workers on AEB preventive measures.