Human cystic echinococcosis in west Azerbaijan, northwest Iran: a retrospective hospital based survey from 2000 to 2009

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hydatidosis in west Azerbaijan, Iran during a 10 year period [2000-2009]. We surveyed medical records of infected patients with hydatid cyst who had been operated in four hospitals in Urmia City, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Several parameters were analyzed including age, sex, place of residency, hospitalization time, and the location of cysts. Of 294 cases, 53.3% were female and 46.7% were male with the mean age of 39.4 years [5- 93]. The average number of operated cysts per year was 29.4 [0.98/100,000 of population]. The most affected age group was 20-30 year olds [18.7% of the cases]. Cysts were localized in liver and lung in 57.5% and 21.8% of cases respectively and the average hospitalization time was 9 days. Single organ involvement was seen in the majority of patients and 28 [9.5%] cases had multiple involvement. The distribution of residence in patients showed 108 [36.9%] of them to have urban origin and 185 [63.1%] were rural residents. The lowest number [n=17] and the highest number of operation [n= 48] recorded in 2000 and 2007, respectively. The prevalence of hydatidosis is high in this city and further studies are needed for evaluation of economic burden and risk factors for CE in this region.

[Study of needle stick injuries among health care workers at teaching hospitals in Urmia]

Personel who reguraly practice invasive procedures such as blood sample collection are particulary at risk to percutanous injuries. Needle stick injuries present the single gerates risk to medical personnel's. This sudy was undertaken to analyze the problem of needdle sticks injuries among health care workers at teaching hospitals in Urmia in 2008 year. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 personals of Urmia teaching hospitals. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the study participants at their work place. Participants were asked to recall needle stick injuries in the preceding 12 months. Factors such as work experience, type of procedure, action taken following injury etc were also studied. The samples were selected by using simple random sampling in every hospital. The data were analyzed according to aims, by using Descriptive and analytical method. Around 25% [107/400] of the Health care workers had experienced a needle stick injury in the last six-months. Needle sticks injuries in females and male was 28% and 24% respectively. Most of the injuries created by needle [47.3%] and anjiocat needle [19.9%]. The results of this study show that the prevalence rates of needle stick injuries are a major risk in hospitals personnel. Therefore there is a need at the hospital level to have a uniform needle stick injuries policy covering safe work practices, safe disposal of sharps, procedures in event of needle stick injury, training including pre-employment training monitoring and evaluation of needle stick injuries and procedures for reporting needle stick injuries