Needlestick injury in surgeons: what is the incidence?
A prospective study by questionnaire was carried out to investigate the incidence of needlestick injury in the operating theatre staff of a teaching hospital and to calculate the individual risk of acquiring blood-borne virus infection in the UK from this source. The individual rate of needlestick injury in operating theatre staff was 1.55% per surgeon per operation (confidence interval (Cl) 0.6-2.5%). The calculated rate of clinical hepatitis B in surgeons compared with the observed rate suggests that needlestick in theatre is the main mode of transmission.
Camilleri
A E
AE
Department of Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK.
Murray
S
S
Imrie
C W
CW
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce