Seroconversion after needlestick injuries – analyses of statutory accident insurance claims in Germany

Dulon, Madeleine; Wendeler, Dana; Nienhaus, Albert

doi:10.3205/dgkh000311

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

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“…Though hollow-bore needles are most often the instrument associated with high-risk seroconversion, especially with HIV, 13 other low-risk devices such as suture needles have the potential to also result in seroconversion, and healthcare providers must be encouraged to report these injuries. 26 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

National Survey of Sharps Injuries Incidence Amongst Healthcare Workers in the United States

Yun¹,

Vyas²,

Wang³

et al. 2023

IJGM

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Reporting sharps injuries is crucial for healthcare worker occupational safety. However, these incidents are often underreported, thus posing potentially dangerous working environments. Previous small and limited studies have quantified this underreporting in specific groups of healthcare workers. This study aims to expand on these studies by further quantifying sharps injury incidences through a national study, thus better understanding healthcare reporting behaviors and the reasons for underreporting. Patients and Methods: This is a national, multi-center, cross-sectional study conducted via an online anonymous survey distributed through email among United States attending physicians, fellows, residents, medical students, and nurses of all specialties (ie, surgery, medicine, pediatrics). Data analysis used descriptive statistics and regressive modeling with significance defined as p<0.05. Results: Of over 3000 surveys emailed, 460 (15.3%) healthcare workers responded. The most vulnerable cohort to report sharps injuries were medical students (0.87 injuries per year ±0.69, n=92) and Postgraduate Year (PGY) 1 (0.67±0.81, n=71), PGY2 (0.86 ±-0.82, n=48), and PGY3 (0.92±0.8, n=45) resident physicians. Healthcare workers in surgical fields reported significantly higher likelihoods (odds ratio=4.61, p<0.001, 95% confidence interval 2.83-7.26) of sharps injuries. Medical students reported sharps injuries the least (40%) and nurses reported sharps injuries the most frequently (71%). The three most common reasons for not reporting sharps injuries included (1) healthcare workers perceiving low infection risk based on patient medical history, (2) fear of peer perception, and (3) belief of lack of reporting utility or that reporting is inconsequential. Conclusion: Medical students and physicians early in training, especially those in surgical fields, are more vulnerable to sharps injuries, but are less likely to report, while nurses are the most likely to report. Dedicated sharps training, education to reduce stigma around injury, and implementing a simplified reporting process may help encourage reporting as well as consistency in reporting, leading to improved workplace safety.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

National Survey of Sharps Injuries Incidence Amongst Healthcare Workers in the United States

Yun¹,

Vyas²,

Wang³

et al. 2023

IJGM

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Infections in Healthcare Workers in Germany—22-Year Time Trends

Nienhaus

2018

IJERPH

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Health workers (HWs) run an increased risk of infection. The standardised data set of an accident insurer was used to analyse the time trends of infection-related claims and confirmed occupational diseases (ODs) in HWs. The numbers of claims and confirmed claims for different infections were analysed for the years 1996 to 2017. The rate of claims and confirmed ODs were calculated per 100,000 full-time workers. The number of claims was relatively stable over time. However, the rate per 100,000 full-time workers decreased from 25.2 to 15.4. The decrease was most pronounced for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections, which were the most frequent infections for which claims were made at the start of the period. In 2017, tuberculosis (TB)-related claims were more frequent than those related to blood-borne virus infections. However, the growing number of TB claims does not reflect an increased infection risk, but rather improved methods for the diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI). Measures to prevent blood-borne virus infections in HWs were successful in the last 22 years, but attention should be paid to newly emerging infections.

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Seroconversion after needlestick injuries – analyses of statutory accident insurance claims in Germany

Cited by 2 publications

References 12 publications

National Survey of Sharps Injuries Incidence Amongst Healthcare Workers in the United States

National Survey of Sharps Injuries Incidence Amongst Healthcare Workers in the United States

Infections in Healthcare Workers in Germany—22-Year Time Trends

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