Archives of Public Health

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2017): Archives of Public Health
Public Health

Laboratory acquired infections among employees in the microbiological laboratories in Macedonia

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  • Biljana (Биљана) Kakaraskoska Boceska (Какараскоска Боцеска)
Biljana (Биљана) Kakaraskoska Boceska (Какараскоска Боцеска)
Institut za javno zdravje na R. Makedonija

Published 2017-08-19

Keywords

  • occupational infections,
  • microbiological laboratories,
  • workplace safety,
  • public health,
  • Republic of Macedonia

How to Cite

1.
Kakaraskoska Boceska (Какараскоска Боцеска) B (Биљана). Laboratory acquired infections among employees in the microbiological laboratories in Macedonia. Arch Pub Health [Internet]. 2017 Aug. 19 [cited 2024 Jul. 16];9(1):58-65. Available from: https://id-press.eu/aph/article/view/1126
Copyright Notice

Abstract

Laboratory acquired infections (LAI)  are  all infections obtained during laboratory work, divided into several types, according to the manner of occurrence. The aim of this paper was to summarize data of LAI and possible reasons that lead to LAI emergence, according to the  answers of the  employees in the  public health  microbiological laboratories in the Republic of Macedonia.  A cross-sectional study was conducted in a period of two months (March-April   2014) by distributing a questionnaire to 187  employees in these laboratories. According to the employees' responses, institutions are not sufficiently equipped with alert systems in case of injury in the workplace. Of the total number of examined workers, 18.7 % gave information about a history of occupational disease associated with their workplace. The most frequent reports of LAI are from laboratory technicians and employees with longer working experience. Lack of effective monitoring system makes it difficult, if not impossible, to follow LAI.  There is a clear need for continuous education of the  personnel, raising awareness for their  protection and job security, as well as implementation of mandatory preventive care.
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