Experiencias de profesionales de la salud con accidentes biológicos en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos

BACKGROUND: Health personnel are at greater risk of contracting infections related to their work within the group of workers with biological risk, and these mishaps can affect their physical and mental health. therefore, the objective of this paper was to understand the experience of health professionals in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Cali (Colombia) who suffered biological accidents. METHODS: Explanatory sequential mixed design, it was developed in two phases, the first of a descriptive quantitative type and the second of a qualitative type with a phenomenological approach. Initially the knowledge about biosafety in 40 workers was characterized through a survey and a in the first contact, five participants were chosen who shared their experiences with biological accidents, through in-depth interviews. The statistical analysis was descriptive, the quantitative variables were presented through measures of central tendency and the qualitative variables through frequency and percentage. RESULTS: 39% of the professionals knew the biosafety barriers, 35% identified the pathogenic pathways, 34% were right about the protection measures, 51% answered correctly about hand washing, 70% answered adequately about biological waste, and only 38% recognized the procedure for reporting an accident. CONCLUSIONS: A low level of knowledge is identified on issues related to biosafety principles, transmission routes, hand sanitizing agents, and procedures to follow in the event of a biohazard accident. In addition, ICUs are identified as high-risk places. biological that cause feelings of fear, anguish, and stress that are added to the long working hours.