title: Risk of needle stick injuries in health care workers: bad habits (recapping needles) last long.
abstract: In order to assess the nurses' knowledge concerning the risk of hepatitis B and C viruses or human immunodeficiency virus infection while performing their professional duties, an anonymous questionnaire developed by the authors was distributed in 2008. Surprisingly 64% respondents occasionally recapping needles after injections, although they know the procedures which are obligatory at the ward. The first step in preventing percutaneous injuries should focus on efforts to eliminate the practice of recapping needles, though education and convenient placement of puncture-resistant containers for the disposal of used sharps.
authors: Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Białystok, Poland. dszadkowska@umwb.edu.pl
authors: Dorota
authors: D
authors: Rogowska-Szadkowska
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Stanisławowicz
authors: Sławomir
authors: S
authors: Chlabicz
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology