Needlestick injuries among health care workers of University of Alexandria hospitals

ABSTRACT

The aims of tiis cross-sectiona sffi and circumstances of needlestick injury [NSI] among heath care workers at University of Alexandria teaching hospitals and to assess the effectiveness of the existing control measures and standard precautions Data were obtained by anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire from 645 staff in 2007. Around two-thirds of workers [67.9%] had suffered at least 1 NSI in the last 12 months. High-risk patients [with history of HIV, hepatitis B virus or, hepatitis C virus infection or injecting drug use] were involved in 8.2% of injuries. On evaluating the effectiveness j of existing control measures, significant were using devices with safety features [OR 0.41], adherence to infection control guidelines [OR 0.42] tranining in injection safety [OR 0.14], comfortable room temperature [OR 0.32] and availability of a written protocol for prompt reporting [OR 0.37]