title: Childhood needlestick injuries in the Dublin metropolitan area.
abstract: Childhood needlestick injuries and other risk exposures outside of hospital are becoming increasingly common. A retrospective review of casenotes to ascertain the incidence, epidemiology and adequacy of management and follow-up of exposures in the Dublin metropolitan area revealed 52 cases between July 1995 and October 1996. Median age of children was 7.4 years. Most occurred in inner city areas with a recognised high prevalence of i.v. drug use. Only 2 high-risk exposures were identified. On presentation all cases received Hepatitis B vaccination and 56% received Hepatitis B immunoglobulin. Following Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and Human immunodeficiency virus testing, no seroconversions have been identified to date in 9 children with completed tests. General follow-up and Hepatitis B immunisation when initiated were not always complete. Standardised management protocols and wider availability of counselling are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Nourse
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk