Background: All health care workers (HCWs) including Doctors, Dentist and Nurses are likely to get exposed to needle stick Injuries (NSIs) and blood & body fluids (BBFs) of patients. This exposure makes them more prone to acquire Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Hence all HCWs must be trained for practicing, universal precautions (UPs) and to know about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) guidelines.

Aims and Objectives: To assess effectiveness of training program about PEP and UPs for Nursing and undergraduate Dental students.

Methodology: The present study was a cross sectional and interventional study carried out after obtaining permission of institutional ethics committee.  467 willing nursing and dental students were asked to answer to 22 pre validated, multiple choice questions before and after training session in 2016-2017.

Results: Overall results indicated improvement in percentage of correct answers after training in 20 out of 22 questions, as compared to, before training.  Improvement in19 out of 20 questions was statistically significant. 

Discussion and Conclusion: Possibility of Exposure to BBFs and NSIs is a lifelong professional Hazard for all HCWs. Habit of adopting universal precautions and awareness of PEP guidelines, is likely to reduce chances of acquiring HIV / HBV/HCV infections during performance of professional duties.

Keywords: Post Exposure Prophylaxis, Health Care Workers, Universal Precautions, Needle Stick Injuries.

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Dr Vivek Pande

Associate Professor, Medicine Dept, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences And Research Centre, Nagpur 440 019 India