title: Sharps injuries in the home health care setting: risks for home health care workers.
abstract: Home health care nurses are at risk of needlesticks and blood exposures, yet few studies have been conducted related to such exposures in the home health care setting. This article describes a cross sectional prevalence pilot study of needlesticks and blood exposures conducted among three home health care agencies in the San Francisco Bay area. Needlestick and blood exposure reports from 1993 to 1996 were submitted from three home health care agencies. The exposures were categorized using an existing categorization system and compiled into a composite report. A total of 52 exposures occurred; nurses sustained 92% of exposures. Twenty-three percent occurred before, during, or after needle disposal; 17% from manipulating intravenous/access ports; 15% from improper disposal; and 13.5% during or after blood draw. Needle safety devices need to be specifically designed for the unique home health care setting and for a standardized rate of calculating needlestick injuries in this setting.
authors.affiliation: James A. Haley V.A. Patient Safety Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haiduven
authors.forename: Shalah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrol
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009740:Nursing Staff; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology