Exposure to blood-borne pathogens from sharp injuries continue to pose a significant risk to healthcare workers (HCW). The number of sharps injuries sustained by HCW is still unclear, primarily due to under-reporting of events. Healthcare professionals are at risk of sustaining such injuries from hollow-bore needles. Sharps injuries are associated with risk of infection with blood-borne pathoge...

Prevention of percutaneous sharps injuries in perioperative settings remains a challenge. Occupational transmission of bloodborne pathogens, not only from patients to health care providers but also from health care providers to patients, is a significant concern. Legislation and position statements geared toward ensuring the safety of patients and health care workers have not resulted in signif...

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) and sharps injuries are a potential source of harm. Such injuries can cause considerable distress and have an economic effect on both the person who is injured and the healthcare organisation. Although data regarding trained nurses are more plentiful, there is a dearth of published information and research on the incidence and causes of NSIs and sharps injuries in th...

BACKGROUND The decrease in reported sharps injuries (SI) in the United States has markedly slowed. Additional devices and strategies need investigation. Sharps containers are associated with SI, and more than 90% of these injuries are related to container design. This study addresses the hypothesis that containers with enhanced engineering can reduce SI. METHODS In a before/after intervention...

Member states of the European Union have until May 112013 to implement the Council Directive 2010/32/EU Implementing the Framework Agreement on Prevention from Sharps Injuries in the Hospital and Healthcare Sector. The aim of this legislation is to achieve a safe working environment and prevent injuries to healthcare professionals caused by all medical sharps, including needlesticks. This artic...

background and objectives: exposure to contaminated needlesticks and sharp devices is an important occupational hazard among healthcare workers. the objective of this study was to gain further insight into prevalence and risk factors of needlestick and sharps injuries among healthcare workers. methods: a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 384 healthcare workers of two hospitals in ne...

AIMS To review the literature on sharps injuries and occupational bloodborne virus transmission in health care in the UK and the worldwide evidence for injury prevention of sharps safety devices. METHODS Literature review by online database and Internet resource search. RESULTS Twenty-four relevant publications were identified regarding UK reported sharps injury rates. UK studies showed as ...

Sharps waste is part of infectious medical waste, management of which is a critical problem in Tanzanian health facilities. This study aimed at assessing the current status of sharps waste management in lower level health facilities (LLHFs) in Ilala Municipality in Tanzania. In this study a sample of 135 LLHFs (103 dispensaries, 13 clinics, 11 laboratories, and 8 health centers) was involved. T...