Sharps Injuries among Nurses: Their Investigation and Prevention / 中华医院感染学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To investigate approaches to the prevention of sharps injuries. METHODS A retrospective questionnaire was performed for 193 nurses of a general hospital from the time of Jan 2004 to Jun 2005. RESULTS The questionnaires indicated that 46.1% nurses had suffered sharps injuries,with averaged of 1.6 times per person,of which 36.7% and 32.4% were caused respectively by syringe needles and glass wares.Opening ampules,disposal of used sharps,installing the syringe needles and transmitting sharp devices were the four major events in which sharps injuries might happen,accounted for 29.5%,22.3%,15.8% and 10.1%,respectively.It is also noted that 79.1% nurses suffering from the injury wore no gloves. CONCLUSIONS Occupational hazards of sharps injuries are threatening nurses.Certain prophylactic measures should be taken to control and prevent sharps injuries.