OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Göknur Eroğlu; Levent Özdemir

doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Cleaning personnel in hospitals are at high risk for occupational exposure to blood and body fluids, yet remain an understudied group. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of blood and body fluid exposure, personal protective equipment compliance, and prevention gaps among hospital cleaning staff. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital between June and August 2023. A census approach was used, including all 251 cleaning personnel; 224 participated (89.2% response rate). Data were collected through a structured data form administered during face-to-face interviews, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, occupational exposures, use of personal protective equipment, and training history. The mean age of participants was 42.3±6.7 years, 66.5% were female, and 53.1% were primary school graduates. A lifetime history of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids was reported by 40.2% of staff. Although reporting rates to occupational health were high (96.7%), critical gaps in personal protective equipment were identified during medical waste handling, a task performed by 86.2% of staff. Compliance was notably low for heavy-duty gloves (8.3%), protective glasses (19.7%), and boots (6.7%), despite universal attendance at training sessions. While 83.9% had initiated Hepatitis B vaccination, the full completion rate was only 42.5%, and significant knowledge gaps regarding immunization schedules were evident. A substantial disparity was found between near-universal training attendance and consistently low compliance with essential personal protective equipment during high-risk tasks, such as handling medical waste. This indicates systemic safety failures rather than individual negligence. To protect this vulnerable workforce, institutions should implement enforced personal protective equipment protocols, conduct accessibility audits, and foster a culture of safety accountability.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Ethical Statement

Permission was received from the Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee, as per the board decision dated May 16, 2023, and numbered 2023-11/41.

Thanks

None

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Work and Occupational Diseases , Occupational Epidemiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Göknur Eroğlu
0009-0000-6021-2695
Türkiye

Levent Özdemir ^*
0000-0002-4330-8334
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 24, 2025

Submission Date

September 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 24, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 10 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA78EE68SB

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Eroğlu, G., & Özdemir, L. (2025). OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 10(3), 293-304. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666

AMA

1.Eroğlu G, Özdemir L. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. IJHSRP. 2025;10(3):293-304. doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666

Chicago

Eroğlu, Göknur, and Levent Özdemir. 2025. “OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 10 (3): 293-304. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666.

EndNote

Eroğlu G, Özdemir L (October 1, 2025) OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 10 3 293–304.

IEEE

[1]G. Eroğlu and L. Özdemir, “OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL”, IJHSRP, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 293–304, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666.

ISNAD

Eroğlu, Göknur - Özdemir, Levent. “OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 10/3 (October 1, 2025): 293-304. https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666.

JAMA

1.Eroğlu G, Özdemir L. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. IJHSRP. 2025;10:293–304.

MLA

Eroğlu, Göknur, and Levent Özdemir. “OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL”. International Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, vol. 10, no. 3, Oct. 2025, pp. 293-04, doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666.

Vancouver

1.Göknur Eroğlu, Levent Özdemir. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. IJHSRP. 2025 Oct. 1;10(3):293-304. doi:10.33457/ijhsrp.1781666