OBJECTIVE:
to describe the characteristics of accidents with biological material and their victims treated at a public hospital in Paraná, Brazil, in 2012.
METHODS:
a descriptive study was conducted using Notifiable Diseases Information System data on accidents at work with biological material and their victims treated at a referral hospital in the year 2012.
RESULTS:
1.217 accidents were identified. 83.3% occurred among women, 59.6% among those aged 20-34 years and 48.8% among nursing professionals. The most frequent types of exposure were percutaneous (65.7%) involving intact skin (20.5%) and mucosa (12.6%). Blood was the most frequently involved biological material (78.9%).
CONCLUSION:
the main victims of accidents with biological material were women, young adults and nursing team workers. Most accidents involved blood.
Occupational Accidents; Occupational Exposure; Exposure to Biological Agents; Occupational Health; Descriptive Epidemiology
