Preventive Training among Medical Interns in Mexico City and Its Association with Needlestick and Sharp Injuries - A Cross Sectional Study.

Introduction: Medical students are a vulnerable group for the acquisition of blood borne pathogens due to their lack of experience. In Europe and Asia preventive training programs have reduced accidental exposures.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the lifetime prevalence of Needlestick and Sharp Objects Injuries (NSIs) among medical interns who received preventive training versus those without such training in Mexico City.

Materials And Methods: In 2013, a cross-sectional study was performed applying an anonymous self-administrated questionnaire. The study population included 467 medical students, male and female, at the end of their internship. The lifetime prevalence of NSI was estimated and compared between students who had received preventive training and those who did not.

Results: The overall lifetime prevalence of NSI was 58%. Lifetime prevalence was higher in students without preventive training compared to those who had such a training (68% vs 51%; p value= 0.002). NSI Lifetime prevalence was not associated with sex, age or place of birth. The task most commonly associated with the latest NSI in trained and untrained students was withdrawing blood.

Conclusion: NSI are frequent accidents among medical students in Mexico City, especially during blood taking. Training units on how to prevent NSI should be encouraged in Mexican medical colleges.