Frequency and damage caused by sharp instruments and needle sticks among staff in a university hospital, Kerman, Iran

• Main Authors: Arezoo Sarani, Zahra Esamaeili Abdar, Hojjat Sheikhbardsiri, Fatemeh Hasani, Behzad Razavi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Journal of Acute Disease
• Subjects: Hospital; Staff; Infection; Injury from needle
• Online Access: http://www.jadweb.org/article.asp?issn=2221-6189;year=2019;volume=8;issue=5;spage=200;epage=203;aulast=Sarani
• ISSN: 2221-6189; 2589-5516

Objective: To determine the frequency and causes of injuries from sharp instruments contaminated by blood in hospital staff. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and conducted at an educational hospital supervised by Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Using a researcher-made questionnaire, we determine the frequency and causes of injuries from sharp instruments contaminated by blood in 142 hospital staff. Results: Of the 142 patients, 68 persons (48%) did not have a history of needle stick injury, but 74 persons (52%) had suffered needle stick injury 1 to more than 5 times. Among those who suffered a needle stick, 74.3% were trained, while 70.7% of those who did not suffer needle stick had been trained. The results indicated that the needle was the most common sharp instrument causing needle stick injury. Conclusions: The study showed a high prevalence of needle stick injury among hospital personnel specifically in ICU, orthopaedic and surgery departments. Supportive measures such as improving injection practices, modification of working schedule, planning training programs targeted at using personal protective equipment, and an adequate number of safety facilities for the effective prevention of needle stick injury incidents are needed.