title: Risks and effects of sharps injuries.
abstract: Nurses face the risk of exposure to blood-borne infections if they suffer a needlestick or other injury from sharp devices such as lancets, scalpels and razors. In order to minimise their risk of contracting viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, or other infections, risk assessment exercises must be undertaken so that safer systems of work can be implemented to protect nurses and other health care professionals.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Nursing, London.
authors.forename: Sheelagh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brewer
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009740:Nursing Staff; D016272:Occupational Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors