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Occupational Infection Prevention Among Nurses and Laboratory Technicians Amidst Multiple Health Emergencies in
Nlandu Roger Ngatu1, Sakiko Kanbara2, Christian Wansu-Mapong3
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
|January 27, 2026
Summary
Congolese healthcare workers face high risks of occupational infections due to frequent percutaneous injuries and blood/body fluid events. Enhanced training and provision of personal protective equipment are crucial for improving infection prevention and safety.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at significant risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces ongoing public health emergencies, increasing risks for HCWs.
- Limited data exists on occupational safety and outbreak preparedness among Congolese nurses and laboratory technicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess occupational safety and outbreak preparedness in nurses and laboratory technicians in the DRC.
- To identify risks and challenges faced by HCWs in infection prevention during public health emergencies.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in five referral hospitals in Kongo central and Katanga areas (2019-2020).
- 493 nurses and laboratory technicians completed a self-administered questionnaire on hospital hygiene and infection prevention practices.
- Data collected included training participation, hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization, use of safety-engineered devices (SEDs), personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and occupational injury/exposure events.
Main Results:
- A low proportion of HCWs were immunized against HBV (16.5%), and 30.1% had no infection prevention training.
- While most used gloves (78%) and masks (92.2%), and disinfected devices (93.5%), a high rate of needle recapping (82.9%) was observed.
- Nearly 90% of respondents experienced percutaneous injuries or blood/body fluid (BBF) events in the past year, with nurses reporting higher odds than laboratory technicians.
Conclusions:
- Congolese nurses and laboratory technicians face a high burden of occupational injuries and BBF events, increasing their risk of infection.
- There is an urgent need for capacity-building training, adequate PPE and SEDs, and robust systems for recording and managing occupational injuries.
- Improved infection prevention strategies are essential to protect HCWs in the DRC, especially during outbreaks.
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