Evaluation of Sharp and Needle-stick Injuries in A Tertiary Care Hospital: A Two-year Analytical Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Aim:Healthcare workers are at risk of infections due to needle-stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) and through contact with blood and contaminated body fluids. This study aimed to investigate NSSIs and associated factors in healthcare workers.Methods:This single-center analytical cross-sectional study included healthcare workers who were admitted to “the Hospital Infections Control Committee” following NSSIs at University of Health Sciences Turkey, Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital, between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021. Demographic and epidemiological data, serological tests, and routine follow-up results were retrospectively collected from NSSI surveillance. Healthcare workers were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of stab wounds (injury or no injury). The age, sex, occupation, and working area of healthcare workers were compared.Results:A total of 232 (7%) experienced NSSIs among 3,312 healthcare workers. The NSSI was 35.0 [confidence interval (CI)=34.9- 35.2] per 1000 person-years. Needle-stick and sharp injuries were most frequently observed in nurses (n=148, 63.8%). Nurses [odds ratio (OR)=5.97, CI=4.51-7.90, p<0.001], cleaning staff (OR=1.64, CI=1.13-2.37, p=0.009), medical waste personnel (OR=10.79, CI=2.88-40.46, p<0.001), and medical technicians/technologists (OR=1.92, CI=1.03-3.57, p=0.039) were at increased risk for NSSIs.Conclusion:This study highlights the need for assigning sufficient healthcare workers, prioritizing vaccination programs for high-risk groups, and providing regular hands-on training as crucial measures to prevent injuries.

Keywords

• sharp injuries
• needle-stick injuries
• healthcare workers