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N Petrosillo

Publications and source records attributed to N Petrosillo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection in patients on hemodialysis: a multivariate analysis based on a dialysis register in Central Italy.

A seroprevalence survey of antibodies to HCV was carried out among 2788 hemodialysis (HD) patients in a region of central Italy. Anti-HCV seroprevalence was 28.6%. A multivariate analysis of risk factors showed a significant association with time on HD, history of blood transfusion and metropolitan area of residence. Our study clearly showed that HCV infection is common among HD patients and is partially associated with preventable factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Occupational human immunodeficiency virus infection in health care workers: worldwide cases through September 1997.

The average estimated risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection for health care workers following a percutaneous or mucous exposure is <0.5% in incidence studies, although a case-control study suggests it is much higher for highest-risk percutaneous exposure. To characterize exposures resulting in HIV transmission, we reviewed available data on occupational cases reported worldwide, identifying 94 documented and 170 possible cases. The majority of documented infections occurred in nurses, after contact with the blood of a patient with AIDS by means of percutaneous exposure, with a device placed in an artery or vein. High-exposure job categories, e.g., midwives and surgeons, are represented mostly among possible cases. Transmission occurred also through splashes, cuts, and skin contaminations, and in some cases despite postexposure prophylaxis with zidovudine. Health care workers could benefit if these data were incorporated in educational programs designed to prevent occupational bloodborne infections.

Global Health↗
PubMed1998

Peer-reviewed articles and public health: the mad cow affair in Italian newspapers.

CONTEXT: It has been suggested that early announcements of research works to be published in peer-reviewed journals may diminish newsworthiness of scientific articles, but this issue has not been widely studied. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact on the news media, in terms of volume and prominence of coverage, of a scientific article published in peer-reviewed journals about issues with relevance to public health compared with the impact of preliminary release of information on the same issue. DESIGN: Analysis of press coverage of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in the 7 newspapers with the widest circulation in Italy, between March 20, 1996, when the British secretary of state for health announced the identification of 10 cases of a new-variant CJD, described April 6, 1996, in The Lancet, and May 10, 1996. Related newspaper articles were identified by hand search. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of newspaper articles published before and after publication of the Lancet article. RESULTS: We collected 535 articles, of which 62 (11.6%) appeared on the front page. The number of articles published daily peaked on March 26 with 48 items and 1 article on the front page of all the newspapers. A total of 386 (72%) of the 535 articles and 56 (88.7%) of the 62 published on the front page were published in the first 2 weeks of the study period, before the Lancet publication. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that, in the case of issues of public health importance, when peer-reviewed research is published after a health risk is disclosed to the public, its impact in the media is small. Coordination between news release by public health authorities and publication by peer-reviewed journals may improve the quality of public information.

Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform↗
PubMed1998

Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among healthcare workers in Italy.

In 1996, the vaccination coverage against hepatitis B virus among 3,157 healthcare workers in Italy was inversely related to the level of hepatitis B virus endemicity in the area of residence. Youngest age and lowest years of employment were independent predictors of the likelihood of vaccine acceptance.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Immigration and health: the Italian situation. Italian National Focal Point (NFP) of the AIDS & Mobility Project.

This report is a description of the situation of migrant populations in Italy. It was written as part of the European project "AIDS & Mobility", which is being co-ordinated by the Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and financed by the European Union (EU). The report was written by the Italian National Focal Point (NFP) of the AIDS & Mobility Project, which consists of a committed team of experts from public institutions, non-governmental organizations, volunteer associations, and researchers from the Telefono Verde AIDS (National AIDS Help-line of Italy) of the Centro Operativo AIDS (COA, National AIDS Unit of Italy) of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The report illustrates the phenomenon of immigration in Italy, with demographic data (updated at 31 December 1997) on the presence of non-Italians and a review of the current laws pertinent to this phenomenon, with particular reference to health care laws. Moreover, epidemiological data on HIV/AIDS and on sexually transmitted diseases are provided, particularly as they relate to drug addiction and prostitution. Finally, following an accurate analysis of the situation and in light of the experience gained, the report includes proposals for identifying needs, objectives to pursue, and strategies to adopt, with respect to confronting the issue of immigration.

Emigration and Immigration↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus among personnel and patients of a psychiatric hospital.

In 1989 and 1992, HIV, HBV and HCV serosurveys were carried out among personnel and patients of an Italian Psychiatric Hospital. No HIV cases were found. Mean annual HBV seroconversion rate was 0.99% in patients and 4.4% in personnel; HCV rate was 0.42% among patients. Although the nosocomial risk of bloodborne infection was low, efforts should be made to minimize it.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection in health care workers: a multiple regression analysis of risk factors.

A seroprevalence survey of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), was conducted using serum samples obtained from 5813 health care workers (HCWs) in five public hospitals in the Latium region of Italy, during the 1985 vaccination campaign against HBV. The seroprevalences of HBV, HCV and HIV were 23.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 22.3-24.4%], 2% (95% CI = 1.6-2.4%) and 0.07% (95% CI = 0.001-0.13%), respectively. In a logistic regression model, sex, increasing age, all job categories vs. physicians, dental treatment in the previous six months, and needlestick injury during the previous year were significantly associated with HBV. Conversely, no occupational and community risk factors, but only history of blood transfusion were significantly associated with HCV. Nevertheless, the documented risk of HCV as well as of HIV transmission through percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposure to blood and body fluids should lead to continued efforts to minimize risks of infection by enhancing the compliance of HCWs with vaccination against HBV and adherence to infection control measures, and by introducing safer devices and techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Risk of hepatitis C seroconversion after occupational exposures in health care workers. Italian Study Group on Occupational Risk of HIV and Other Bloodborne Infections.

BACKGROUND: To determine the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroconversion, health care workers reporting an occupational exposure with blood or other risk-prone body materials from a patient known to be seropositive for HCV antibody were enrolled. METHODS: HCV seroconversion within 6 months of a reported exposure was assessed by second-generation enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot assay. RESULTS: From January 1992 through December 1993, 331 (51%) hollow-bore needlesticks, 105 (16.5%) suture needle or sharp object injuries, 85 (13%) mucous membrane contaminations, and 125 (19.5%) skin contaminations were reported. Four HCV seroconversions were observed after hollow-bore needlesticks (1.2%; 95% CI 0.3% to 3.0%); no seroconversions occurred after other routes of exposure. Blood-filled needlesticks and source patient coinfection with HIV appeared to be associated with a higher risk of seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of HCV seroconversion after occupational exposure appears to be low but is not negligible. Aggressive implementation of universal precautions is important for preventing risk-prone exposure, but safer devices are also needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The risks of occupational exposure and infection by human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus in the dialysis setting. Italian Multicenter Study on Nosocomial and Occupational Risk of Infections in Dialysis.

BACKGROUND: The dialysis setting has been recognized as a high-risk environment for transmission to both patients and health care personnel of blood-borne infections, such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and HIV. METHODS: A seroprevalence survey of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infection among 1002 patients and a subsequent 1-year surveillance study of percutaneous injuries and skin and mucous membrane contaminations were carried out among 527 health care workers in nine Italian dialysis units. The risks of occupational acquisition of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections among health care workers were calculated according to a deterministic model. RESULTS: HIV antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen, and hepatitis C antibody prevalences among patients were 0.1%, 5.1%, and 39.4%, respectively. A total of 67 percutaneous injuries, 29 mucous membrane contaminations, and 271 skin contaminations were reported by health care workers. The risk of acquiring infection was calculated to be 4000 and 8000 times lower for HIV than for hepatitis B and C, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The risks of infection with HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C for health care workers at dialysis units differ greatly and depend on the demographic profile and medical history of patients undergoing dialysis. To minimize the risk of exposure to HIV and other blood-borne pathogens, efforts must continue to increase compliance with universal precautions. Needle designs incorporating safety features and improvements in dialysis equipment design are also needed to avoid potential exposure.

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗
PubMed1995

The risk of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids for health care workers in the dialysis setting. Italian Multicenter Study on Nosocomial and Occupational Risk of Infections in Dialysis.

In 1991, to assess the risk of occupational exposure to blood or other body fluids in health-care workers (HCWs) working in the dialysis setting, properly trained interviewers used standardized questionnaires asking the 583 HCWs employed in 19 Italian dialysis units to recall exposures sustained in the previous year. On a total of 208,498 dialyses performed in the previous year, 105 (5 per 10,000 dialyses) needlesticks, and 579 (28 per 10,000 dialyses) skin/mucous membrane contaminations were recalled. Recapping injuries were recalled in 38 cases (1.8 per 10,000 dialyses), but 67 needlestick injuries (4.1 per 10,000 dialyses) occurred during other circumstances (p = 0.006). The highest rate of skin/mucous membrane contaminations were recalled during the dialysis patient care, but more than one third of exposures occurred in other circumstances (break in blood circuit, disposal, contamination with blood-soiled equipment. To minimize the risk of occupational exposure to blood efforts must continue to increase compliance with Universal Precautions; moreover, needle designs incorporating safety features to prevent sticks are needed.

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗
PubMed1995

Occupational hepatitis C virus infection in Italian health care workers. Italian Study Group on Occupational Risk of Bloodborne Infections.

The risk of exposed health care workers in 16 Italian hospitals becoming infected with hepatitis C virus was assessed through two serosurveys at a 1-year interval and at follow-up. Prevalence, which was 2.2%, was significantly associated with previous acute hepatitis, blood transfusions, housekeeping, and older age (> 46 years) but not with occupational risk factors. After 1 year, 2622 (87%) of the 3006 seronegative health care workers were retested, and 3 (0.1%), who did not acknowledge occupational or community risk factors, seroconverted. Additionally, 133 (97 needlesticks) out of 370 reported occupational exposures were to hepatitis C virus; one pricked nurse seroconverted (0.75%). Although the risk is not negligible, hepatitis C virus infection does not seem to be easily occupationally transmitted.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[The knowledge, attitudes and practice in regard to the risk for occupational HIV infection in a group of gynecologists from 3 Italian regions].

The risk of occupational infection by blood-borne pathogens has been well evaluated. However, a low perception of this risk among health care workers (HCWs) and a low compliance to infection control measures has been documented by several studies. During a meeting of gynecologists of Southern Italy, a survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices (K.A.P.) on HIV and other blood-borne viral infections was conducted among 143 obstetricians-gynecologists. 133 (93%) HCWs answered the questionnaire. 81% of them recalled almost one occupational exposure during their career and 54% almost two in the past year. Our data suggest a low knowledge about HIV and the other blood-borne viral infections and Universal Precautions (UP): only 16% of HCWs knew the rate of vertical transmission of HIV, less than 15% knew the rate of seroconversion after occupational exposure to HBV and HCV, and finally only 33% knew to which body fluids apply UP. Moreover, 93.7% of HCWs believed that HIV antibody screening of all patients is an effective strategy to reduce the risk of occupation HIV infection. More than 90% of gynecologists used to request HIV-antibodies to pregnant women, 21% after the first trimester. Although HCWs interviewed can not be considered representative of Italian gynecologists, our data suggest the need of an intensive training to increase gynecologists' knowledge about HIV, other blood-borne pathogens and the risk of occupational infections also in order to modify attitudes and practices.

Adult↗