title: Needlestick and sharps injuries in a tertiary hospital in the Republic of Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Republic of Korea has focused attention on monitoring the occurrence and characteristics of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) as part of an effort to reduce the occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as HBV. This study investigated NSIs reported in a tertiary referral hospital in Busan, Republic of Korea over a 6-year period (2001 to 2006).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on the number of NSIs, places where NSIs occurred, devices causing injury, purpose of using sharps, and circumstances surrounding NSIs were collected from the study hospital's NSI database. The incidence of NSIs per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees was calculated by year and by profession.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 221 NSI cases were reported during the study period. Overall incidence was 2.6 cases per 100 FTE employees per year, with the highest rate occurring in interns (17.7 cases per 100 FTE interns per year). Some 34% of cases occurred in the ward, needles were the most common device causing injury (73%), and the most common circumstance surrounding an NSI was after sharps use and before disposal (24%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of NSI occurrence found in this study was comparable to that reported in previous studies. However, the overall incidence of NSIs was significantly lower than that in previous studies, apparently related to underreporting of NSIs. Further research to investigate reasons for this underreporting is recommended. Considering the high incidence of NSIs in interns, in-service training for this group should be enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Unit, Department of Quality Control, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sunmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ihnsook
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Jeongae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Yunkyoung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sunhee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Changhwa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*