title: Sharps injuries amongst healthcare workers: review of incidence, transmissions and costs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sharps injuries and the related risk of infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent one of the major occupational health risks for healthcare workers (HCWs).
  
  
  METHODS
  An overview of available data on the incidence of sharps injuries and the related HBV, HCV and HIV infections and ensuing costs is provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Literature reported incidence rates of sharps injuries ranging from 1.4 to 9.5 per 100 HCWs, resulting in a weighted mean of 3.7/100 HCWs per year. Sharps injuries were associated with infective disease transmissions from patients to HCWs resulting in 0.42 HBV infections, 0.05-1.30 HCV infections and 0.04-0.32 HIV infections per 100 sharps injuries per year. The related societal costs had a mean of €272, amounting to a mean of €1,966 if the source patient was HIV positive with HBV and HCV co-infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sharps injuries remain a frequent threat amongst HCWs. The follow-up and treatment of sharps injuries and the deriving consequences represent a significant cost factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Monique M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Elseviers
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arias-Guillén
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorke
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Arens
mesh_terms: D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing* / Q000635:transmission*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing* / Q000635:transmission*; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing
keywords: Haemodialysis; Infection; Nursing