Abstract
During 1982-3, 31 specific and 12 uncharacterized infections were reported from 30 of 240 laboratories, representing 29 223 person-years of experience. Thirteen cases of hepatitis included 10 of type B or non-A, non-B hepatitis of probable occupational origin (attributable incidence 34.2 per 100 000 person years) affecting haematology, biochemistry, and postmortem workers. Of nine cases of tuberculosis, three were probably acquired in the laboratory (attributable incidence 10.3 per 100 000 person years) and affected microbiology, morbid anatomy, and postmortem staff. Microbiology staff also acquired, probably from the laboratory, four shigella infections and one each of brucella and herpes. The general community was the probable source of three cases of hepatitis A, two of rubella, and one of varicella. During the two years the risk of laboratory acquired infection mainly concerned the postmortem room and mortuary.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Blaser M. J., Hickman F. W., Farmer J. J., 3rd, Brenner D. J., Balows A., Feldman R. A. Salmonella typhi: the laboratory as a reservoir of infection. J Infect Dis. 1980 Dec;142(6):934–938. doi: 10.1093/infdis/142.6.934. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grist N. R. Hepatitis and other infections in clinical laboratory staff, 1979. J Clin Pathol. 1981 Jun;34(6):655–658. doi: 10.1136/jcp.34.6.655. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grist N. R. Hepatitis infection in clinical laboratory staff. Med Lab Sci. 1981 Mar;38(2):103–109. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grist N. R. Infections in British clinical laboratories 1980-81. J Clin Pathol. 1983 Feb;36(2):121–126. doi: 10.1136/jcp.36.2.121. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]