Report of the Council on Scientific Affairs

Abstract

Needlestick injuries continue to pose a significant risk to health care workers; however, appropriate use of needlestick prevention devices, especially in comprehensive prevention programs, can significantly reduce the incidence of such injuries. Cost analyses indicate that use of these devices will be cost-effective in the long term. To provide more scientific and cost data on the efficacy of needlestick prevention devices, recording of needlestick injuries must be improved. Federal law now requires the use of safety-engineered sharps devises to protect health care workers, and state-level legislation on the use and evaluation of needlestick prevention devices is under consideration. Health care employers should evaluate the implementation of needlestick prevention devices with the participation of employees who will use such devices and, where appropriate, introduce such devices accompanied by the necessary education and training, as part of a comprehensive sharps injury prevention and control program.

Percutaneous Exposure Incidents of the Health Care Personnel in a Newly Founded Tertiary Hospital: A Prospective Study

“…Nurses reported most needlestick and sharp injuries. This is in accordance with reports from other countries [3], [4]. Incidence of PEIs is likely related with usage of sharp instruments and nurses may be more likely than doctors (except surgeons, perhaps) to be handling sharps.…”

“…According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 600,000 health care workers in the United States experience exposures to blood each year [3]. These may occur in the emergency departments, in the operating room, in the radiology or other departments and may be related to faulty needle insertion techniques, needle recapping, or incautious disposal of contaminated needles and sharps [2], [4], [5]. Needlestick and sharp injuries may be combined with failure to use appropriate barrier garments (e.g.…”

Prevalence and Post-exposure Prophylaxis use for Needlestick Injuries among Health Care Providers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kochi, India

“…In the present study, majority of NSIs were reported by staff nurses, (42.9%), which is a similar result compared with previous studies (4,6,(13)(14)(15)(16). This incidence rate is high though compared with a study done by Jayanth et al (17), where 28% of nurses had experienced NSIs.…”

Reducing Needle Stick Injuries in Healthcare Occupations: An Integrative Review of the Literature

“…Using needle protective devices or double gloving may be cost effective in the long term [14], with a additional 5% cost and 6% cost saving having been reported [15]. However, there is a need for undertaking more cost-effective analysis to determine further validation.…”