Because threats to personal well-being may affect practice, nurses must promote a safe and healthy work environment to protect themselves, their loved ones, patients, and coworkers. Most transmission of bloodborne viruses continues to occur through sexual intercourse, from sharing needles to inject drugs, and from pregnant mother to child before or during birth. Transmission in the workplace is possible if skin is punctured by a contaminated sharp, or broken skin or mucous membrane is splashed with blood or body fluid. Investigated another 69 cases, including 14 nurses. These are reported cases.
Many exposures go unreported for fear of discrimination or loss of confidentiality.
Begin the series of three shots now, so you can begin building immunity to this deadly disease. Antibody tests have been developed to detect the virus, but the number of health care workers infected is not known. No vaccine is currently available. Needlestick injury is the most common cause for occupationally-related HIV infection. Many factors affect whether an exposed nurse seroconverts, that is, develops the antibodies that indicate infection has occurred.