Occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens among Saint Louis Metropolitan Police officers.

Police officers have increased risk of occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens (BBP): human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Police officers are at risk of acquiring these BBP because they come in contact with high risk populations such as intravenous drug users and persons who have risky sex. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to describe the characteristics of occupational exposures to BBP among members of the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) using data from the BJC Post Exposure Hotline data set (2000-2006); and (b) to survey in 2008 SLMPD officers' BBP exposure reporting practices to the BJC Post Exposure Hotline (2000-2006). The research design was descriptive. Sixty-two of the 65 SLMPD officers who called the BJC Post Exposure Hotline 2000-2006 had BBP exposures. Regarding exposure characteristics, blood was the predominately reported material (52%). Percutaneous (34%) and non-tact skin (31%) were the types of exposure predominately reported. Regarding device used during the exposure, other devices were predominately reported (19%). Fifty-eight percent of the BBP exposures were determined to be high risk, moderate risk, or low risk using a CDC algorithm. A wide variety of source suspect risk factors were reported. Most often, the risk factors of the source suspect were unknown (16%), the source suspect claimed disease (15%), or the source suspects were IV drug users (13%). The post exposure hotline nurse recommended post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to 13 officers, most frequently for blood exposure (29%). Twelve officers agreed to take PEP. In the 12 officers who agreed to take PEP, the source suspect risk factors were confirmed HIV, suspected HIV, IV drug users, risky sex, and trauma. A total of 200 surveys was distributed with a 52% response rate. Fifty-nine of 103 (57%) respondents reported having sustained a BBP exposure. Types of BBP exposures reported most often were