Needlestick/sharps injury: an occupational health hazard of hospital workers

ABSTRACT

To analyze a one-year record of needlestick/sharps injuries that were reported at Riyadh Military Hospital, Staff Health and Preventive Medicine Clinics with a view to discern certain aspects of the epidemiology of this occupational health hazard in this hospital setting. Retrospective analysis of cases of needlestick/sharps injury reporting daily at both clinics were obtained from the clinic records. Riyadh Military Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Preventive Medicine Sub-Division. Ninety seven reported needlestick/sharps injury cases by staff [nurses, doctors, etc] working in different hospital sites were analyzed from clinic records for January-December 1994. Identified were the types of sharps and the activities of staff when incidents occurred. Nurses [58.8%] and doctors [17.5%] were mostly affected in incidents which occurred mainly in the wards [48.5%] and theatres [13.4%]. Needles [72.2%] were the most common sharps. Using the syringe to withdraw from or adminster to the patients were more common [30.9%] than other activities such as disposal of needles [17.5%], suturing [15.4%] and cleaning waste bags [13.4%]. Dealing with this occupational hazard needs the adoption of two complementary preventive strategies for bloodborne pathogens vis primary prevention through the adoption of universal precautions and secondary prevention by active and/or passive immunization of health care workers