Analyse des pratiques et connaissances du personnel soignant sur les accidents d'exposition au sang à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)

Objective – The authors wanted to assess the knowledge of health care workers on management procedures, and infection control measures for accidental exposure to blood (AEB), in the 3 Abidjan teaching hospital.Methods – A cross-sectional study was made from February to April 1999. Physicians, nurses and medical students were requested to answer anonymously a questionnaire on their demographic profile and past percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposure to blood.Results – Nine hundred and thirty six people were solicited but only 707 (75.5%) answered. Four hundred and six (57.4%) were nurses, 184 (26%) were physicians, and 117 (16.6%) were medical students. Overall, 60% of them reported AEB. Needlestick injuries accounted for 44% of reported accidents. The highest frequency of accidents was observed among nurses (22.5%), and physicians (18%). 86.5% of workers having reported an incident claimed to have disinfected the lesion and only 15% reported the accident after injury. 16% had HIV testing performed before the incident. 84.6% agreed with the reporting procedure for occupational exposures and 70% knew about the universal measures of hygiene. 298 of them suggested antiretroviral prophylaxis after exposure to HIV infected blood (HAART 28%), 2 NRTI (16%), and Zidovudine in monotherapy (44%).Conclusion – The risk of AEB is high among health care workers in Abidjan but most accidents were not reported. The importance of compliance with universal precautions, of an occupational exposure reporting procedure, of knowing about source patients' HIV status and prophylactic antiretroviral drugs need to be emphasized.     

Occupational risk of acquiring HIV infection through needlestick injuries

Accidental needlestick exposures occur frequently among hospital personnel and account for most incidents of percutaneous injuries. Even if universal precautions were followed routinely, it is unlikely that multiple needlestick exposures could be avoided completely. Despite the likelihood of persons incurring multiple needlestick exposures, relatively little information is available on the cumulative risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection for health care workers attending unrecognized HIV-infected patients. A quantitative method to estimate annual cumulative risk from multiple exposures is offered, and the risk of HIV infection is estimated by use of a probability model for health care workers in both hospital and emergency department settings.     

Needlestick and sharps injuries among health-care workers in Taiwan.

Sharps injuries are a major cause of transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses and human immunodeficiency virus in health-care workers. To determine the yearly incidence and causes of sharps injuries in health-care workers in Taiwan, we conducted a questionnaire survey in a total of 8645 health care workers, including physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, and cleaners, from teaching hospitals of various sizes. The reported incidence of needlestick and other sharps injuries was 1.30 and 1.21 per person in the past 12 months, respectively. Of most recent episodes of needlestick/sharps injury, 52.0% were caused by ordinary syringe needles, usually in the patient units. The most frequently reported circumstances of needlestick were recapping of needles, and those of sharps injuries were opening of ampoules/vials. Of needles which stuck the health-care workers, 54.8% had been used in patients, 8.2% of whom were known to have hepatitis B or C, syphilis, or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Sharps injuries in health-care workers in Taiwan occur more frequently than generally thought and risks of contracting blood-borne infectious diseases as a result are very high.     

Needlestick and sharps injuries among nurses in the healthcare sector in a city of western Turkey

The aims of this study were to determine the rate of bloodborne infections after needlestick and sharps injuries in nurses at work, to estimate the number of vaccinations administered, and to assess whether universal precautions were being followed. The study involved 289 nurses working in five hospitals and six primary healthcare centres. Between 1 April 2002 and 31 June 2002, a total of 139 practising nurses were included in the study following a needlestick or sharps injury. The results of completed questionnaires were collated, and Chi-squared test was used for analysis. The rate of hollow-bored needle-related injuries was 76.2% (106/139). Most nurses (69.1%) did not report any details of their injuries and 32.4% (45/139) of nurses had not been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Only 5.3% of the nurses who responded to the compliance question indicated that they always complied with universal precautions. Of 139 nurses, 1.4% and 7.9% showed evidence of HBV infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, respectively. All those who had hepatitis B were aged 30 years or under, whereas most of those who were anti-HCV positive (81.8%) were over 30 years old (P < 0.05). Nurses working in the Turkish healthcare sector are frequently exposed to bloodborne infections. Precautions and protection from needlestick and sharps injuries are important in preventing infection of nurses. Education about the transmission of bloodborne infections, vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis must be implemented. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the risk to nurses of contracting these potentially serious infections.     

A survey of doctors' and nurses' knowledge,attitudes and compliance with infection control guidelines in Birmingham teaching hospitals

This study investigated knowledge about infection control amongst doctors and nurses through a cross-sectional survey conducted between March and May 2001 in three Birmingham, UK teaching hospitals. Seventy-five doctors and 143 nurses, representing 7% and 4%, respectively, of potential respondents, participated in the study measuring knowledge of, attitudes towards, and compliance with universal precautions. Overall knowledge of risks of blood-borne virus (BBV) transmission from an infected patient after needlestick injury was low [44.0% for hepatitis B virus (HBV), 38.1% for hepatitis C virus (HCV), 54.6% for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)]. There were significant differences between doctors and nurses concerning the estimations of HBV (e-antigen +) (P=0.006) and HIV (P<0.001) transmission risks. Eighty-six percent of nurses stated that they treat each patient as if they are carrying a BBV compared with 41% of doctors. Doctors and nurses differed significantly in their attitudes about and reported compliance with washing hands before and after patient contact and with wearing gloves when taking blood (P<0.001 for all). Doctors consistently de-emphasized the importance of, and reported poor compliance with, these procedures. Doctors were also more likely to state that they re-sheath used needles manually than were nurses (P<0.001). Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported that they had suffered a needlestick injury with a used needle, with doctors more likely to be injured than nurses (P=0.005). Twenty-eight percent of these doctors and 2% of the nurses did not report their needlestick injuries (P=0.004). Education, monitoring, improved availability of resources, and disciplinary measures for poor compliance are necessary to improve infection control in hospitals, especially amongst doctors.     

Prevalence and prevention of needlestick injuries among health care workers in a German university hospital

Objective Health care workers (HCWs) are exposed to bloodborne pathogens, especially hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through job-related risk factors like needlestick, stab, scratch, cut, or other bloody injuries. Needlestick injuries can be prevented by safer devices. Methods The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and causes of needlestick injuries in a German university hospital. Data were obtained by an anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire. We calculated the share of reported needlestick injuries, which could have been prevented by using safety devices. Results 31.4% (n = 226) of participant HCWs had sustained at least one needlestick injury in the last 12 months. A wide variation in the number of reported needlestick injuries was evident across disciplines, ranging from 46.9% (n = 91/194) among medical staff in surgery and 18.7% (n = 53/283) among HCWs in pediatrics. Of all occupational groups, physicians have the highest risk to experience needlestick injuries (55.1%—n = 129/234). Evaluating the kind of activity under which the needlestick injury occurred, on average 34% (n = 191/561) of all needlestick injuries could have been avoided by the use of safety devices. Taking all medical disciplines and procedures into consideration, safety devices are available for 35.1% (n = 197/561) of needlestick injuries sustained. However, there was a significant difference across various medical disciplines in the share of needlestick injuries which might have been avoidable: Pediatrics (83.7%), gynecology (83.7%), anesthesia (59.3%), dermatology (33.3%), and surgery (11.9%). In our study, only 13.2% (n = 74/561) of needlestick injuries could have been prevented by organizational measures. Conclusion There is a high rate of needlestick injuries in the daily routine of a hospital. The rate of such injuries depends on the medical discipline. Implementation of safety devices will lead to an improvement in medical staff’s health and safety.     

Management of occupational exposure to HIV--what actually happens

A year after the Department of Health issued guidelines on post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for health care workers exposed to HIV, we conducted a telephone survey of occupational health nurses and junior doctors in London teaching hospitals, to assess implementation of the guidelines and awareness among junior doctors of local policies. The management and administration of PEP for HIV differed considerably between hospitals. Many junior doctors did not know what to do in the event of a needlestick injury. Both the implementation of and the briefing of staff about current management policies need to improve.     

Effect of educational programs, rigid sharps containers, and universal precautions on reported needlestick injuries in healthcare workers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of infection control programs on reported needlestick injuries in a general hospital. DESIGN: Surveillance of all reported needlestick injuries at the University of Cincinnati Hospital was maintained by the infection control department for five years, from 1985 through 1989. Data on individual workers were collected, tabulated on a monthly basis, and reviewed continually to monitor trends in injuries. During this time, the effects of each of three new infection control programs on reported injuries were evaluated sequentially. SETTING: A 700-bed general hospital that serves as the main teaching hospital of the University of Cincinnati. PARTICIPANTS: All employees of University Hospital who reported to personnel health for management of needlestick injuries. INTERVENTIONS: In 1986, an educational program to prevent injuries was initiated and continued throughout the surveillance period. In 1987, rigid sharps disposal containers were placed in all hospital rooms. In 1988, universal precautions were introduced with an intensive inservice. RESULTS: Surveillance identified 1,602 needlestick injuries (320/year) or 104/1,000/year. After the educational program began, reported injuries increased rather than decreased, and this was attributed to increased reporting. Subsequently, after installation of the new disposal containers, reported injuries returned to the levels seen prior to the educational program, but recapping injuries showed a significant decrease from 63/year to 30, or 20/1,000/year to 10. This decrease was observed in nurses but not in other healthcare workers. After universal precautions were instituted, total injuries increased slightly, but recapping injuries remained at 50% of the levels reported prior to the use of rigid sharps disposal containers. CONCLUSIONS: The three infection control programs failed to produce a major reduction in reported needlestick injuries, except for a decrease in recapping injuries associated with the placement of rigid sharps disposal containers in all patient rooms. These observations indicate that new approaches are needed to reduce needlestick injuries.     

医护人员锐器伤的调查分析与防护对策

目的 探讨医务人员锐器伤发生的危险因素,以制定正确有效的防护措施.方法 采用前瞻性调查的方法对76名锐器伤的医务人员职业分布、工龄以及追踪观察锐器伤后处理结果等进行比较分析.结果 76名医护人员发生锐器伤中,临床护士15人占19.74％,实习护士23人占30.26％,护工7人占9.21％,技师3人占3.95％,临床医师11人占14.47％,实习医师17人占22.37％;按工龄分段,工龄＜5年的38人占50.00％,工龄6～15年的25人占32.89％,工龄＞16年的13人占17.11％;通过追踪观察发生锐器伤后1～6月,2人＜6个月未到复查时间,其余74人已结束追踪观察,无血源性传播疾病发生.结论 锐器伤主要发生在护士、工作时间短、工作经验少的工作人员,加强职业培训教育,提高医务人员安全防范意识和规范操作技能,将有助于减少医务人员的锐器伤.     

Needlestick injury in hospital personnel: a multicenter survey from central Italy. The Latium Hepatitis B Prevention Group.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rate of needlestick injury in hospital personnel in an Italian region. To identify risk factors potentially amendable to correction. DESIGN: Hospital workers undergoing hepatitis B prevaccination testing in 1985 through 1986 were interviewed regarding needlestick injury in the previous year, job category, area of work, years of employment, and other pertinent information. SETTING: Of the 98 public hospitals of the Latium region, 68 participated in the survey: 32 of 55 with less than 200 beds, 20 of 25 with 200 to 300 beds, 11 of 13 with 400 to 900 beds, and all of the 5 with more than 1,000 beds. PARTICIPANTS: All healthcare workers providing direct patient care or environmental services as well as student nurses were invited by the hospital directors to undergo hepatitis B prevaccination testing and vaccination, if eligible. RESULTS: Of 30,226 hospital workers of the 68 participating hospitals, 20,055 were interviewed (66.3%): 47.7% of the 7,172 doctors, 71% of the 14,157 nurses, 55.9% of the 2,513 technicians, and 71.9% of the 6,384 ancillary workers. Needlestick injury was recalled by 29.3%; the rates were 54.9%, 35.3%, 33.8%, 26.5%, 18.7%, and 14.7% in surgeons, registered and unskilled nurses, physicians, ancillary workers, and technicians, respectively. The recalled injury rate was 39.7% and 34.0% in surgical and intensive care areas; in infectious diseases, it was 16.7%. Rates were lower in hospitals with 200 to 300 beds (25.6%). The needlestick injury rate declined from 32% in those with less than 5 years of employment to 28% in those with more than 20 years (p less than .01). Prevalence of HBV infection was higher in student nurses and young workers recalling a needlestick exposure (14.3% and 15.8%, respectively), versus 10.1% and 12.8% in those not exposed (p less than .01 and less than .05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Parenteral exposure to blood-borne infectious agents is a relevant risk among healthcare workers in our region, particularly in defined job categories and hospital areas (surgeons, nurses, surgical, and intensive care areas). Immunization and educational efforts should be made along with better designs of devices to reduce the risk of infection.     

Vaccination attitudes,beliefs and behaviours among primary health care workers in northern Croatia

Primary health care workers (HCWs) provide almost all vaccine services in Croatia, so they play an essential role in vaccine recommendations and uptake. The aim of this study was to determine the level of vaccine hesitancy among primary HCWs, to identify differences between nurses and physicians in attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards vaccination, and to determine predictors of vaccine hesitancy among HCWs. We conducted a cross-sectional study from July to December in 2018 among physicians and nurses employed in the services of epidemiology, public health, school medicine, pediatrics and general practice/family medicine in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, a primarily urban region with a population around 300 000 in the northern part of Croatia. The list of primary HCWs offices was obtained from the Croatian Health Insurance Fond website. We used a self-administered questionnaire on their attitudes, beliefs and behaviours relative to vaccination. Obtained response rate was 65.5% (324/495) of eligible primary HCWs; 64.1% (143/223) of physicians and 66.5% (181/272) of nurses. Seventeen percent of HCWs were identified as vaccine hesitant, and in univariate analysis, we observed an association between HCWs occupation and their own vaccination against flu (p = 0.001), measles (p = 0.016) and HPV (p = 0.025). Nurses and physicians differed (p < 0.001) in their general attitude, beliefs and behaviours towards vaccination, with a higher level of hesitancy among nurses. In multiple logistic regression, those more likely to be vaccine-hesitant were nurses (AOR = 5.73, 95%CI = 2.48–13.24), those who were uncertain or would never receive a vaccine against measles (AOR=11.13; 95%CI=5.37–23.10) and HPV (AOR=5.02; 95%CI=2.60–9.74), as well as those who had encountered a serious adverse event following immunization (AOR=7.55; 95%CI=3.13–19.18). As personal hesitancy may have a negative impact on vaccination education and recommendations, and therefore vaccine coverage, it is necessary to implement interventions to increase vaccination knowledge and confidence among primary health care workers, especially nurses.     

Mental health of healthcare workers who experience needlestick and sharps injuries

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed daily to the risk of injury by needlesticks and other medical instruments. However, the psychiatric impacts of such injuries have not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health status of HCWs with experiences of needlestick and sharps injuries. A cross-sectional written survey was performed. The psychological symptoms before injury and current status were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The proportions of HCWs with and without needlestick and sharps injuries were 71.1% (n=263) and 28.9% (n=107), respectively. HAM-A and BDI scores were significantly higher among HCWs with injury experiences (p<0.01). HCWs with injury experiences exhibited higher PSS and BDI scores after the injury and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Particular attention should be directed towards the psychological consequences of needlestick and sharps injuries in HCWs.     

Universal Precautions Compliance and Exposure Frequency to Patient Body Fluids in Nurses Employed By Urban and Rural Health Care Agencies

Previous studies have suggested that health care workers may differ with respect to universal precautions knowledge, compliance, practice setting barriers, or exposure to patient body fluids in rural and urban areas. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there are rural/urban differences in the degree of precaution taken by health care workers to prevent the spread of blood borne pathogens, specifically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). A random sample of rural and urban registered and licensed practical nurses in Tennessee was surveyed. The respondents completed two instruments that assessed self-reported universal precautions knowledge, precautions, and practice barriers. No measurable differences in universal precautions knowledge, compliance, or barrier scores between the two groups were found; yet rural nurses were 2.7 times as likely to be exposed to patient body fluids than urban nurses (P < 0.005). The conclusion was that rural nurses were as experienced and as knowledgeable about universal precaution techniques as their urban peers, but their knowledge was not translated into practice to the same degree. Two possible explanations offered are (1) rural nurses are more likely to be acquainted with, and thus trusting of, their patients, and (2) the lower seroprevalence of human immunodefiency virus and hepatitis B virus in rural areas may lead to complacency.     

Work schedule, needle use, and needlestick injuries among registered nurses.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between working conditions and needlestick injury among registered nurses. We also describe needle use and needlestick injuries according to nursing position, workplace, and specialty. DESIGN: Three-wave longitudinal survey conducted between November 2002 and April 2004. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A probability sample of 2,624 actively licensed registered nurses from 2 states in the United States. Follow-up rates for waves 2 and 3 were 85% and 86%, respectively. Respondents who had worked as a nurse during the past year (n=2,273) prior to wave 1 were included in this analysis. RESULTS: Of the nurses, 15.6% reported a history of needlestick injury in the year before wave 1, and the cumulative incidence by wave 3 was 16.3%. The estimated number of needles used per day was significantly related to the odds of sustaining a needlestick injury. Hours worked per day, weekends worked per month, working other than day shifts, and working 13 or more hours per day at least once a week were each significantly associated with needlestick injuries. A factor combining these variables was significantly associated with needlestick injuries even after adjustment for job demands, although this association was somewhat explained by physical job demands. CONCLUSIONS: Despite advances in protecting workers from needlestick injuries, extended work schedules and their concomitant physical demands are still contributing to the occurrence of injuries and illnesses to nurses. Such working conditions, if modified, could lead to further reductions in needlestick injuries.     

Needlestick injuries and other occupational exposures to body fluids amongst employees and medical students of a German university: incidence and follow-up

The aim of this study was to obtain data concerning the incidence, reporting and follow-up of occupational exposure to blood or other body fluids (OEB). A questionnaire was distributed to employees and medical students (N=787) and official reports of OEB during the year 2003 (N=203) and their consequent follow-up (N=100) were evaluated. The percentages of needlestick injuries were 29.5% for students and 22.5% for employees. Incidence rates per 1000 employee days were 0.61 for needlestick injuries or sharp object injuries and 0.27 for mucocutaneous exposure to body fluids. The mean rate of underreporting was approximately 45%. Contrary to expectations, only 4.3% of nurses and 3.9% of doctors officially reported an OEB in 2003. The number of persons who did not attend for a serological test increased during the follow-up period. Considering all documented test results, 35 out of 100 affected persons were lost to follow-up due to default of appearance. As a consequence, the employer should provide safety devices and enforce didactical interventions with practical training and incident reporting. Periodical occupational health medicals, including serological testing, should be mandatory for all employees, including medical students and student nurses. To increase compliance after OEB, a short follow-up period using improved laboratory tests requires further discussion.     

Needlestick injuries among critical care nurses before and after adoption of universal precautions or body substance isolation

A small, self-selected sample of Canadian acute-care hospitals participated in an analysis of their critical care nurses' needle disposal practices and needlestick injury experience before and after adopting new Universal Precautions or Body Substance Isolation infection control strategies. Covert observation of disposal practices, review of employee health injury reports and direct survey of the nurses indicated that employee health records documented fewer injured nurses during a thirty-day period (2.3% of 929 nurses in 33 hospitals) than was found by surveying nurses directly (3.5% of 312 nurses in 11 hospitals; only 36% of these injuries had been documented in employee health records). Injury rates in only one of eleven hospitals indicated appreciable needlestick risk reduction after adopting Universal Precautions or Body Substance Isolation, and an association between reduced needle recapping and reduced needlestick injury was not evident. Rates of injury found in this research remain commensurate with rates reported before the era of Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation. These findings suggest that new strategies have not had significant impact on healthcare workers' greatest source of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.     

Needlestick injuries in a tertiary care centre in Mumbai, India

Accidental exposure from blood/body fluid of patients is a risk to healthcare workers (HCWs). Percutaneous injury is the most common method of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. A policy was formulated at our institute, a tertiary care centre in central Mumbai, and we report a six-year (1998--2003) ongoing surveillance of needlestick injuries. Of the 380 HCWs who reported needlestick injuries, 45% were nurses, 33% were attendants, 11% were doctors and 11% were technicians. On source analysis, 23, 15 and 12 were positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), respectively. Immediate action following potential exposure included washing the wound with soap and water, encouraging bleeding and reporting the incident to the emergency room. Analysis of the source of injuries revealed that known sources accounted for 254 injuries, and unknown sources from garbage bags and Operating Theatre instruments accounted for 126 injuries. Most needlestick injuries occurred during intravenous line insertion (N=112), followed by blood collection (N=69), surgical blade injury (N=36) and recapping needles (N=36). Immediate postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HCWs who sustained injuries with hepatitis-B-virus-positive patients included booster hepatitis B immunization for those positive for antiHBs. A full course of immunization with hepatitis B immunoglobulin was given to those who were antiHBs negative. All staff who sustained injury with HIV were given immediate antiretroviral therapy (AZT 600 mg/day) for six weeks. Subsequent six-month follow-up showed zero seroconversion.     

某院医务人员针刺伤调查及防护对策

目的了解医务工作者针刺伤现况并分析原因,以探讨有效的针刺伤防护策略。方法回顾性调查某院2013年1月—2015年12月医院感染管理科登记的针刺伤案例并进行分析。结果共发生164例针刺伤,其中医生71名(43.29%),护士81名(49.39%),其他医务人员12名(7.32%)。2013年发生针刺伤事件47例(28.66%),2014年54例(32.93%),2015年63例(38.41%)。医疗器械为受污染器械的有152例(92.68%),医疗器械污染情况未知的有9例(5.49%),而未受污染的器械仅为3例(1.83%)。164例针刺伤发生地点以手术室最多(67例,占40.85%);针刺伤发生部位以手指的发生率最高(141例,占85.98%);发生针刺伤的原因以粗心、工作繁忙或者未按规范操作为主(115例,占70.12%),医生发生针刺伤的原因以工作经验不足者最多,占52.11%,护士发生针刺伤原因以粗心、工作繁忙或者未按规范操作者最多,占93.83%。结论医务人员针刺伤案例逐年增多,应加强医务人员职业防护意识,加强医院感染管理制度建设,改善医疗环境等措施减少针刺伤的发生。