title: Occupation risk of needlestick injuries among health care personnel in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: In a four-year study of penetrating injuries potentially contaminated with blood among health care personnel, the majority of cases occurred amongst nurses (65%). The wards were the commonest place for injury to occur (39%) which questions whether difficult practical procedures should be performed there. Injuries occurred most commonly during the afternoons (63%). Although needles were the most frequent implement (79%) causing injury, very few cases (7%) were related to the re-sheathing of cannulae. The commonest injured area (46%) was the palmar surface of the distal forefinger of the non-dominant hand. Western staff reported most incidents. There were no episodes of repeated needlestick injury. No staff developed any blood-borne infection (HIV, hepatitis B, treponemal infection) within a one year follow-up period after such a penetrating injury.
authors.affiliation: King Khalid National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: al-Kalai
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology