Evaluation of potential reduction in blood and body fluid exposures by use of alternative instruments

BACKGROUND: Injuries from needlestick, sharps injuries and splashes lead to exposure to blood and body fluids with the potential for transmission of blood-borne viruses. AIMS: To identify alternative instruments, which if used would improve worker safety. METHODS: Retrospective review of 161 injuries with identification of safer alternative products for instruments that caused injury. The proportion of injuries that could be prevented was calculated [with 95% confidence intervals (CI)]. RESULTS: The average rate of injury was 7.8/1000 employees per annum (95% CI, 6.8-9.4/1000). In the 2 years the highest rates of injury occurred in pre-registration house officers (164/1000; 95% CI, 64-264/1000), phlebotomists (154/1000; 95% CI, 15-291/1000) and senior house officers (45/1000; 95% CI, 13-77/1000). An upper estimate of 65% (95% CI, 58-72%) of incidents would have been preventable with a change to alternative devices. CONCLUSIONS: Change to the use of intrinsically safer instrumentation has the potential to prevent injury to healthcare workers.     

A comprehensive approach to percutaneous injury prevention during phlebotomy: results of a multicenter study, 1993-1995.

OBJECTIVE: To examine a comprehensive approach for preventing percutaneous injuries associated with phlebotomy procedures. DESIGN AND SETTING: From 1993 through 1995, personnel at 10 university-affiliated hospitals enhanced surveillance and assessed underreporting of percutaneous injuries; selected, implemented, and evaluated the efficacy of phlebotomy devices with safety features (ie, engineered sharps injury prevention devices [ESIPDs]); and assessed healthcare worker satisfaction with ESIPDs. Investigators also evaluated the preventability of a subset of percutaneous injuries and conducted an audit of sharps disposal containers to quantify activation rates for devices with safety features. RESULTS: The three selected phlebotomy devices with safety features reduced percutaneous injury rates compared with conventional devices. Activation rates varied according to ease of use, healthcare worker preference for ESIPDs, perceived "patient adverse events," and device-specific training. CONCLUSIONS: Device-specific features and healthcare worker training and involvement in the selection of ESIPDs affect the activation rates for ESIPDs and therefore their efficacy. The implementation of ESIPDs is a useful measure in a comprehensive program to reduce percutaneous injuries associated with phlebotomy procedures.     

Health care workers' exposure to blood-borne pathogens in Lebanon

Background Accidental exposure to blood-borne pathogens (BBPs)is a risk for health care workers (HCWs). Aim To study the pattern of occupational exposure to blood andbody fluids (BBFs) at a tertiary care hospital. Methods This study reports a 17-year experience (1985–2001)of ongoing surveillance of HCW exposure to BBFs at a 420-bedacademic tertiary care hospital. Results A total of 1590 BBF exposure-related accidents werereported to the Infection Control Office. The trend showed adecrease in these exposures over the years with an average ±standard error of 96 ± 8.6 incidents per year. In thelast 6 years, the average rate of BBF exposures was 0.57 per100 admissions per year (average of needlestick injuries alonewas 0.46 per 100 admissions). For 2001, the rates of exposurewere found to be 13% for house officers, 9% for medical student,8% for attending physicians, 5% for nurses, 4% for housekeeping,4% for technicians and 2% for auxiliary services employees.The reason for the incident, when stated, was attributed toa procedural intervention (29%), improper disposal of sharps(18%), to recapping (11%) and to other causes (5%). Conclusions The current study in Lebanon showed that exposureof HCWs to BBPs remains a problem. This can be projected toother hospitals in the country and raises the need to implementinfection control standards more efficiently. Similar studiesshould be done prospectively on a yearly basis to study ratesand identify high-risk groups.     

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.     

Reported needlestick and sharp injuries among health care workers in a Greek general hospital

Between July 1990 and June 1996, 284 exposures to infectious material were reported by 247 health care workers (HCWs) at AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece, representing an overall rate of 2.4% reported injuries per 100 HCWs/year. Nurses reported the highest rates of incidents (3.0%) and in all but one working group women exhibited higher injury rates per year than male HCWs. Young workers (21-30 years old) were primarily affected in incidents (P < 0.001). Needles were the most common implement causing injury (60.6%) and resheathing of used needles as well as garbage collection were common causes of injury. None of the HCWs seroconverted in exposures where immune status to blood-borne pathogens was estimated. Efforts by the infection control committee need to be more intense, in order to increase the rate of reported staff injuries. This will facilitate identification of unsafe practices and provide more adequate preventive measures.     

Risk perception and attitudes towards HIV in Serbian health care workers

BACKGROUND: Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk of occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIM: To investigate the perception of professional risk from, and the knowledge, attitudes and practice of HCWs to HIV and AIDS in Serbia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 1,559 Serbian HCWs using self-administered anonymous questionnaires. Chi-square testing and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied. RESULTS: Eighty-nine per cent of HCWs believed that they were at risk of acquiring HIV through occupational exposure. The perception of professional risk was higher among HCWs frequently exposed to patients' blood and body fluids (OR 7.9, 95% CI 4.4-14.5), who used additional personal protection if the HIV status of patient was known (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.6), who had experienced sharp injuries within the last year (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0-3.8) or who had been tested for HIV (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.5), and among HCWs who had treated HIV-positive patients (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8). The majority of respondents had deficient knowledge about modes of HIV transmission. Attitudes towards HIV-positive patients were significantly different by occupation. Seventy per cent of HCWs used appropriate protection during their daily work with patients. CONCLUSIONS: HCWs require specific educational programmes and training protocols to ensure that they are adequately protected when carrying out high quality care.     

广东省39所医院医务人员锐器伤调查

目的了解广东省医务人员血源性职业暴露的发生情况,为制定预防措施提供科学的依据。方法采用问卷调查方法,对广东省39所医院医务人员2011年6月锐器伤的发生情况进行横断面调查。结果发放调查表32 617份,回收32 297份,回收率为99.02%;实际有效问卷32 007份,有效率为99.10%。发生锐器伤1 460例,1 909例次,锐器伤发生率为4.56%,例次率为5.96%,平均月发生密度为0.06次/（人月）。发生污染锐器伤1 495例次,污染锐器伤例次发生率为4.67%（1 495/32 007）;污染锐器伤占锐器伤总例次的78.31%（1 495/1 909）,其中61.67%(922/1 495)能追踪到暴露源,38.33%（573/1 495）不能确定其是否具有传染性。血源性污染器械中,81.71%（67/82）为乙型肝炎暴露源,14.63%（12/82）为梅毒暴露源,3.66%（3/82）为丙型肝炎暴露源,无艾滋病暴露源。锐器伤发生的地点主要为普通病房（47.72%）与手术室(20.27%);频率最高的操作是加药(15.92%),其次为医疗废物处置(12.78%)和拔除动（静）脉针（12.21%）;主要医疗器具为一次性注射器 (35.99%)、头皮钢针 (19.43%)和手术缝针(13.41%)。医务人员职业暴露相关知识培训率为93.25%。结论锐器伤是导致血源性传播疾病感染的主要职业因素, 医疗机构应建立健全职业病防治组织机构和规章制度,规范医务人员的血源性职业暴露预防与控制行为,降低血源性职业暴露伤害风险。     

医疗废物锐器盒病原微生物污染状况与使用时限研究

目的了解医疗废物锐器盒不同使用时间病原微生物污染状况,探讨锐器盒使用的合理期限,为医疗废物的管理提供参考。方法随机抽取某传染病三级甲等专科医院病区治疗车上使用后的2 L锐器盒12个,检测锐器盒内部以及外表面不同时间节点乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)、丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)、人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)病毒载量和细菌菌落数,同期取3个未使用的锐器盒作为空白对照。结果采集实验组和对照组四个节点(48 h、72 h、5 d、7 d)锐器盒外表面、内容物的洗脱液标本各60份,均未检测到HIV、HCV,锐器盒的外表面标本均未检测到HBV,仅有一个锐器盒使用后72 h内容物洗脱液检测到HBV,含量为2.20E+01 IU/mL。使用后锐器盒内部洗脱液的染菌量变化:使用后5 d锐器盒内容物洗脱液100%有细菌生长,使用后7 d 12个锐器盒内容物洗脱液均细菌载量不可计数。锐器盒外表面细菌载量为1～9 CFU/cm~2。感官指标中所有锐器盒内、外表面均未发生明显改变,未产生不适气味。结论随着锐器盒贮存时间延长至7 d,锐器盒外表面细菌菌落数无明显增长,也未检测到HIV、HBV、HCV,建议不强制要求产生量小(即使用后48 h锐器盒达不到3/4贮存量)的科室锐器盒使用时限设为48 h。     

Hepatitis C virus: an important occupational hazard?

Infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to affect 3% of the world's population and is an important cause of liver disease. It is most commonly transmitted by percutaneous exposure. Although current evidence does not suggest an increased prevalence of HCV infection among healthcare workers, transmission of infection following occupational exposure has been demonstrated. An average transmission rate of 1.8%, following percutaneous injury, has been reported. The risk of transmission is higher from patients with viraemia, as measured by a positive polymerase chain reaction for HCV RNA. After exposure to HCV, healthcare workers should be actively followed up, initially using a test to detect viral RNA. This may facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment. Recent reports in the UK, of transmission of infection to patients from HCV infected healthcare workers, have prompted a review of the appropriateness of HCV infected individuals undertaking exposure prone procedures.     

锐器盒使用现状、存在问题及改进思路

锐器伤是医院内常见的职业伤害,也是医护人员感染血源性病原体的重要途径,规范使用锐器盒可有效预防锐器伤的发生。我国锐器盒的使用已很大程度普及,但锐器盒的规格有限,产品单一,仍有提升安全性能的设计空间。针对临床使用中存在的问题,我国学者对锐器盒进行了多项改进。笔者建议相关单位结合临床设计理念,开发和推广更为合理的安全型锐器盒应用于临床,与其他行为控制措施综合实施,有效减少锐器伤的发生。     

Work-related injuries and occupational health and safety factors in smaller enterprises--a prospective study

The aim of this study was to determine whether any of the health, environmental and safety (HES) factors registered by visiting small mechanical enterprises in Norway at the start of the study could predict the risk of occupational injuries in subsequent years. Twelve HES factors, including injury awareness, programme for action, employee participation, training and use of personal safety devices, were registered. A questionnaire was completed by interviewing the employer and observing production. Two variables based on observation of the use of safety equipment were significantly correlated with occupational injuries. There is potential for prevention in smaller enterprises by increasing the use of personal protection devices and safety equipment on machines. Frequent inspection with feedback to the workers is probably the most effective means of attaining the desired result of reducing injuries.     

GAO faults Veterans Affairs for not promoting safer 'sharps' devices. General Accounting Office

The General Accounting Office (GAO), in a Congressional study, found that Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals have a long way to go in preventing HIV infection through needlestick injuries. Although the number of punctures and cuts from needles, scalpels and other devices is reported to be declining, the GAO faults the VA for failing to promote new, safer devices to curb the risk of accidental infection. The study was requested by U.S. Republican Ron Wyden, D-Ore, who was concerned about the extent of injuries from sharps in health care facilities and the extent to which facilities were using new, safer devices to reduce the risk of injury.     

Medical emergencies at sea and injuries among Scottish fishermen

BACKGROUND: It has long been known that fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations. In 2001, 33 boats were lost and 10 fishermen killed in UK waters. Despite the dangerous nature of the occupation, very little research has been conducted on fishermen's health and safety. Aims To address this gap in current knowledge, research was conducted to gain an understanding of health and lifestyle issues affecting Scottish fishermen. It was hoped that the study would identify aspects of fishermen's health that could be improved. This paper considers medical emergencies at sea and injuries among fishermen. METHODS: Data were collected using a postal questionnaire sent to the Scottish fishermen population and health diaries in a small sub-sample. RESULTS: In total, 1157 usable responses were received, giving a response rate of 57%. One-fifth of respondents had been involved in a medical emergency at sea that required them to be evacuated to shore for immediate treatment. The incidence of injuries was high, and one-third of the injuries experienced were to the back. The likelihood of evacuation for a medical emergency or experiencing an injury was increased both for certain occupations and with increasing number of boats worked on during the fisherman's career. CONCLUSION: Groups identified as being at a high risk of experiencing medical emergencies or injuries should be targeted in training initiatives or accident awareness and prevention initiatives.     

Occupational skin conditions in the food industry

The study presents the findings of a questionnaire survey of skin conditions in a selective sample of the UK food industry, covering companies who employ occupational physicians. The mean incidence of skin conditions in food manufacturing operations was 2103 per million employees per annum. The mean incidence in retail or catering organizations was 1414 per million employees per annum.     

医务人员职业损伤的研究分析

目的：研究分析医务人员因针头或其他尖锐器具造成损伤的发生率及其原因。方法：对610名医务人员进行问卷调查，被调查人员包括医生，护士，技师和实验工作人员。被调查者通过回顾的方式，如实填写过去一年内皮肤损伤的原因，次数及所采取的预防措施，回收有效问卷581份（95％），结果：在581名被调查者中，共发生1811例次皮肤务污染事件，其中54％是被污染血液后的内孔针头引起的，医务人员清楚地了解，有13％的病人患有乙肝，丙肝，梅毒，艾滋病等可以通过血液传播的疾病，每名医师（技师）每年有2．85次皮肤损伤几率，每名护士每年有3．4次皮肤损伤几率,所有的损伤事故发生后，均采用强力碘等消毒伤口，并有针对性地采取大量盐水冲洗，注射乙肝疫苗，高效免疫球蛋白等措施，结论：医务人员的这种损伤与他们的特殊职业有密切的关联，54％的损伤是在内孔针头充满血液的情况下造成的，具有很高的传播疾病的危险性，因此，应采取针对性的防护安全教育，预防事故发生。     

Occupational exposure to HIV and the use of post-exposure prophylaxis

The use of antiretroviral therapy as post-exposure prophylaxis against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is now routine following high-risk exposure to the HIV virus. This article summarizes the management of health care workers and others exposed to HIV in an occupational setting, and the evidence behind it.     

Effect of implementing safety-engineered devices on percutaneous injury epidemiology.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of implementing safety-engineered devices on percutaneous injury epidemiology, specifically on percutaneous injuries associated with a higher risk of blood-borne pathogen exposure. DESIGN: Before-and-after intervention trial comparing 3-year preintervention (1998--2000) and 1-year postintervention (2001--2002) periods. Percutaneous injury data have been entered prospectively into CDC NaSH software since 1998. SETTING: A 427-bed, tertiary-care hospital in Manhattan. PARTICIPANTS: All employees who reported percutaneous injuries during the study period. INTERVENTION: A "safer-needle system," composed of a variety of safety-engineered devices to allow for needle-safe IV delivery, blood collection, IV insertion, and intramuscular and subcutaneous injection, was implemented in February 2001. RESULTS: The mean annual incidence of percutaneous injuries decreased from 34.08 per 1,000 full-time-equivalent employees preintervention to 14.25 postintervention (P < .001). Reductions in the average monthly number of percutaneous injuries resulting from both low-risk (P < .01) and high-risk (P was not significant) activities were observed. Nurses experienced the greatest decrease (74.5%, P < .001), followed by ancillary staff (61.5%, P = .03). Significant rate reductions were observed for the following activities: manipulating patients or sharps (83.5%, P < .001), collisions or contact with sharps (73.0%, P = .01), disposal-related injuries (21.41%, P = .001), and catheter insertions (88.2%, P < .001). Injury rates involving hollow-bore needles also decreased (70.6%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of safety-engineered devices reduced percutaneous injury rates across occupations, activities, times of injury, and devices. Moreover, intervention impact was observed when stratified by risk for blood-borne pathogen transmission.     

The impact of shift work on the risk and severity of injuries for hospital employees: an analysis using Oregon workers' compensation data

BACKGROUND: While past research on health care workers has found that shift work can lead to negative physiological and psychological consequences, few studies have assessed the extent to which it increases the risk of specific work-related injuries, nor quantified and compared associated types, severity and costs. AIMS: This study aimed to derive and compare the rates, typologies, costs and disability time of injuries for various hospital worker occupations by day, evening and night shift. METHODS: This study used Oregon workers' compensation claim data from 1990 to 1997 to examine the differences in hospital employee claims (n = 7717) by shift and occupation. Oregon hospital employee claim data, hospital employment data from Oregon's Labor Market Information System and shift proportion estimates derived from the Current Population Survey (CPS) were used to calculate injury rate estimates. RESULTS: The injury rate for day shift per 10,000 employees was estimated to be 176 (95% CI 172-180), as compared with injury rate estimates of 324 (95% CI 311-337) for evening shift and 279 (95% CI 257-302), night shift workers. The average number of days taken off for injury disability was longer for injured night shift workers (46) than for day (38) or evening (39) shift workers. CONCLUSION: Evening and night shift hospital employees were found to be at greater risk of sustaining an occupational injury than day shift workers, with those on the night shift reporting injuries of the greatest severity as measured by disability leave. Staffing levels and task differences between shifts may also affect injury risk.     

Sharps safety devices

Injuries from needles or other sharps are a danger to patients and clinicians alike, particularly due to the risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission. One way to reduce the likelihood of such injuries is to implement protective devices as substitutes for more dangerous conventional products. Over the years, Health Devices has evaluated several sharps safety devices. In this issue, we evaluate four new types of protective alternatives: disposable prep razors, epidural needles, ophthalmic knives, and stitch cutters. Our Evaluation discusses whether these sharps safety devices deliver the added safety that they are designed to provide and whether they are effective at performing their intended clinical purposes.     

Hepatitis B, vaccination and healthcare workers

Hepatitis B viral infection is transmitted in adults by transfer of body fluids containing the virus. The outcomes following infection can be significant in terms of both health and employment. It is for these reasons that effective preventative health care is the goal of occupational health practitioners. This evidence-based review of the literature provides a basis upon which practice can be established and highlights some of the issues that may confront practitioners of the future.