Preventing needlestick injuries.
Inadvertent puncture during use, disassembly, or disposal of needles or sharp devices (called collectively, "sharps") creates risk beyond a simple puncture. Sharps injury has always been a risk for health care workers, but emergence of certain blood-borne pathogens has intensified the need to act. Three- hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV-are of utmost concern because they can cause significant morbidity or death. The incidence of sharps injury remains unacceptably high. Injury analysis at long-term care facilities and at the national level reveals several trends that can be used to shape policy and select interventions. Policy, practice, and training need to address new devices engineered to prevent sharps injuries, sharps disposal containers, and prophylaxis after percutaneous injury.
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Guido R
GR
Zanni
Jeannette Y
JY
Wick
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006282:Health Personnel; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D009339:Needles; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D011482:Protective Devices; D017751:Safety Management; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal