Journals / Mikrobiyoloji Bülteni / 2020 / Cilt: 54 - Sayı: 3
Employee Safety and Biosafety Applications in Microbiology Laboratories; A Multicenter Evaluation in Turkey
- Journal
- Mikrobiyoloji Bülteni
- Pages
- 347–367
- DOI
- —
Abstract
Medical laboratory personnel may be exposed to various hazards, especially biological and chemical, during their routine activities. In this multicenter study, which could reflect the nation wide results, it was aimed to determine the safety and biosecurity practices of the employee working in medical microbiology laboratories and to reveal the current situation. A total of 1072 personnel working in the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of 23 hospitals (14 medical faculty hospitals, seven ministry of health training and research hospitals and two state hospitals) from different provinces were provided with a questionnaire consisting of 33 questions inquiring about the rules, opinions, attitudes and behaviors regarding safety and biosafety practices. Statistical analyses were made with institutions, age groups, gender, educational background, working time and occupational groups in terms of exposure to biological and chemical hazards. It was determined that approximately 50% personnel of the university/ training and research hospitals and 2/3 of the state hospitals personnel consumed food and beverages in the laboratories (p< 0.05). Compared with other hospitals, it was determined that in state hospitals; the absence of separate resting room (35%), the personnel finding their own knowledge and practices inadequate (28.9%), laboratory coats washed at home (95%), educational organization and participation rates (90%) and medical waste information levels of the personnel were higher (p< 0.05). It was determined that as the age progresses, the rate of education, food and beverage consumption in the laboratory, not being outside the laboratory with protective equipment (gloves, masks and laboratory coats) and the history of laboratory acquired infections were increased (p< 0.05). It was observed that washing the laboratory coats at home was higher in the younger age group and hospital washing was higher in the elderly group (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference between the genders in terms of food and beverage consumption in the laboratory (p= 0.09). It was determined that periodic health checks were not performed in 1/3 of both sexes, but the use of gloves and compliance with medical waste rules was lower in men. Female employees find themselves inefficient in terms of knowledge and practices (p< 0.05). The rate of those who did not have their periodic checkups at regular intervals was higher in the high school and master of science education groups; While non-compliance with medical waste rules, food and beverage consumption in the laboratory was highest in the primary and high school graduates, the lowest rates were found in the master and doctorate groups (p< 0.05). The rate of those who hadregular health checkups was higher in the group of specialist physicians and technicians (p< 0.05). It was observed that the rule of not going out of the laboratory with protective equipment was fully observed in the 35+ years working group, while compliance was 70-85% in other groups (p< 0.05), hepatitis B vaccination rate was highest in specialist doctors and lowest in cleaning and other personnel group (p< 0.05). Highest non-compliance rate with medical waste rules was observed in the cleaning personnel group (p< 0.05). As a result, although advances have been made in employee safety practices in medical microbiology laboratories in our country in recent years, it has been found that it is not yet sufficient. The results indirectly reflected the profile of medical laboratories in our country. In the laboratories, physical space and equipment deficiencies should be eliminated, periodic health checkups and vaccination should be provided, non-staff entrance to the laboratory and food, beverage and cigarette consumption should be prevented, laboratory coats should be washed in the hospital, in-service trainings, including medical waste training, should be conducted and these trainings should be developed through mechanisms that will change the behavior
Özet
Tıbbi laboratuvar çalışanları, rutin aktiviteleri esnasında başta biyolojik ve kimyasal olmak üzere çeşitlitehlikelere maruz kalabilmektedirler. Ülke genelini yansıtabilecek olan bu çok merkezli çalışmada; tıbbimikrobiyoloji laboratuvarlarında, çalışan güvenliği ile biyogüvenlik uygulamalarının belirlenmesi ve mevcut durumun ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Farklı illerden 23 hastanenin (14 tıp fakültesi hastanesi,yedi eğitim ve araştırma hastanesi, iki devlet hastanesi) tıbbi mikrobiyoloji laboratuvarında çalışan toplam 1072 personele çalışan güvenliği ve biyogüvenlik uygulamaları ile ilgili kurallar, görüşler, tutum vedavranışları sorgulayan 33 sorudan oluşan bir anket uygulanmıştır. Kurumlar, yaş grupları, cinsiyet, eğitimdurumu, çalışma süreleri ve meslek grupları ile biyolojik ve kimyasal tehlikelere maruziyet açısından istatistiksel analiz yapılmıştır. Üniversite/eğitim ve araştırma hastanelerinde yaklaşık %50, devlet hastanelerindeyaklaşık %70 oranında laboratuvar içerisinde yiyecek ve içecek tüketildiği belirlenmiştir (p 35 yılçalışan grubunda tam uyulduğu, diğer gruplarda %70-85 oranında uyum olduğu görülmüştür (p< 0.05).Hepatit B aşısı yaptırma oranı; uzman hekimlerde en yüksek, temizlik ve diğer personel grubunda iseen düşüktür (p< 0.05). Temizlik personeli grubunda tıbbi atık kurallarına uymama daha yüksek orandagözlenmiştir (p< 0.05). Sonuç olarak; son yıllarda ülkemizde tıbbi mikrobiyoloji laboratuvarlarında çalışan güvenliği uygulamalarında ilerlemeler katedilmiş olmasına rağmen, henüz yeterli düzeyde olmadığısaptanmıştır. Sonuçlar, ülkemizdeki tıbbi laboratuvarların genel profilini de dolaylı olarak yansıtmaktadır.Fiziki mekan ve ekipman eksiklikleri giderilmeli, personelin periyodik sağlık kontrolleri ve aşılanmaları sağlanmalı, laboratuvara ilgisiz kişilerin girişi engellenmeli, laboratuvar ortamında yiyecek/içecek ve sigara tüketimi engellenmeli, laboratuvar önlüklerinin hastanede yıkanması sağlanmalı, tıbbi atık eğitimi dahil hizmet içi eğitimler yapılmalı ve bu eğitimler davranış değişikliği sağlayacak mekanizmalarla geliştirilmelidir.