[Biosafety: scientific production in nursing]

The aim of this study was to investigate thematic approach and methodological focuses used in researches about biosafety, as well as the qualification of the authors of papers published in Brazilian Nursing periodicals. The publications were classified according to the main subject, as follows: worker's health; patient's health; and environment. The results showed that in a 65 years period (1932-1997) a total of 224 studies about biosafety were published, 76 were articles and conferences; 148 scientific articles, monographs and thesis. There was a predominance of articles about worker's and patient's health. Most of the studies were descriptive researches and were published by nurses of the Southeast area of the country. The majority of the authors were teachers with a Master or Doctorate degree.