Diary

The HPA's second Prevention of Occupational Infections, Treatment and Exposure Reporting Strategies for Healthcare Workers (POINTERS) conference addresses both the epidemiology, prevention and treatment of four major infectious diseases in healthcare workers – Hepatitis B and C, HIV and Tuberculosis.

Building on the unqualified success of the first event in 2006, the second conference brings together national and international speakers to consider the prevalence of these infections and the extent of their transmission to and from healthcare workers, and to inform national policy on their management and prevention.

The problem of needlestick injuries and their consequences is a widely-recognised occupational health concern for healthcare workers. However, infections in the healthcare setting are also a patient safety issue because, sadly, patients have been infected by healthcare workers during the course of their hospital care. Both the occupational health and patient safety aspects of accidental transmission of bloodborne viruses between patients and healthcare workers is covered by the programme, including presentations on local experiences of the management of needlestick injuries and the pre-employment screening of healthcare workers.

The conference takes place on 27 and 28 November at Central Hall Westminster.  This key event, which has been awarded 11 CME credits by the Royal College of Pathologists, is not only for occupational health specialists but also for professionals in infection control, public health, health protection, microbiology, virology, risk assessment and management of infected health care workers.

Full details of the programme and online registration instructions are available at the dedicated website: www.hpapointersconference.org.uk