BIOSEGURIDAD EN LA ATENCIÓN DEL USUARIO EN LABORATORIOS CLÍNICOS DEL CANTÓN CHONE

Abstract

Biosecurity groups protocols and standards aimed at preventing risks or infections arising from exposure to potentially infectious or biohazardous, chemical and/or physical agents. Globally, patient safety is a fundamental principle of health care. Adverse events may be related to problems of clinical practice, products, procedures, or the system. In Ecuador, the Ministry of Public Health, through Ministerial Agreement 015 of October 17, 2016, approved the “Patient-User Safety Manual”, which provides for its mandatory application for the National Health System. Objective: To evaluate biosecurity in the user's care in Clinical Laboratories of the Chone Canton. Methodology: The study corresponds to descriptive and qualitative observational research, where an on-site visit was made to the private clinical laboratories of the canton Chone. Results: With regard to the characterization of the current status of clinical laboratories, all are private and mostly urban. In terms of the characteristics that show satisfaction in the users, it was evidenced that the technical personnel provide information to the users about the procedure that is carried out, as well as the provision of alcohol or disinfectant gel at their entrance to the laboratory is guaranteed. Priority care for vulnerable people is identified, but 75% of them lack routes or access to facilitate their entry. In general, they comply with biosafety protocols in the framework of the use of personal protective clothing and disposal of waste, except for a very important aspect such as disinfection, of which compliance is not evident. Conclusion: The laboratories involved in the research, although not subject to external evaluation, have the permission to work, partially comply with the provisions of the health regulations, and currently the cantonal COE against COVID-19. Users’ express satisfaction with the attention received. The application of the instrument to assess compliance with biosafety aspects made it possible to determine that clinical laboratories comply with some part of the protocols, and to identify inadequacies in the treatment or disinfection of sharp and infectious wastes