Biological risk in physiotherapists, a real threat Riesgo biológico en fisioterapeutas, una amenaza real

Abstract

Workers in the health sector are exposed to multiple occupational risks, but biological risks are the ones that occur most frequently, as these workers come into contact with patients suffering from infectious-contagious diseases, perform medical and therapeutic procedures where they are directly exposed to fluids. bodies and/or contaminated material or work in areas where the presence of microorganisms is high. Clinical physiotherapy is no stranger to this problem since within its areas of performance it is exposed to body fluids and highly dangerous contaminated material that generate occupational diseases derived from biological risk; and the institutions providing health services, have not channeled efforts to control and reduce exposure to biological risk factors, forgetting the meaning of the term Occupational Health, which is the physical and mental well-being for all workers, and the achievement of better working conditions. , which makes biological risk a real threat, which could be minimized if the physiotherapist and support staff know the Biosafety Standards, universal precautions such as personal hygiene standards, barrier elements, handling of sharp or sharp objects. , isolation; work procedures; the handling of potentially infected material; and protection through vaccination; key tools to avoid making mistakes in the intervention processes, minimizing the occurrence of accidents and diseases of occupational origin.