Knowledge and Practices Regarding Needle Stick Injury Among Healthcare Workers

Introduction

A needle stick injury, percutaneous injury, or percutaneous exposure incident is the penetration of skin by a needle or other sharp object, which was in contact with blood, tissue, or other body fluid before the exposure.

Needle stick injuries are a common event in the healthcare environment. When drawing blood, administering an intramuscular or intravenous drug, or performing any procedure involving sharps, accidents can occur and facilitate the transmission of blood-borne diseases. Injuries also commonly occur during needle recapping or via improper disposal of devices into an overfilled or poorly located sharps container.

Lack of access to appropriate personal protective equipment, or alternatively, employee failure to use provided equipment, increases the risk of occupational needle stick injuries. Needle stick injuries may also occur when needles are exchanged between personnel, loaded into a needle driver, or when sutures are tied off while still connected to the needle. Needle stick injuries are more common during night shifts and for less experienced people; fatigue, high workload, shift work, high pressure, or high perception of risk can all increase the chances of a needle stick injury. 

Definition

Needle stick injuries are wounds caused by needles that accidentally puncture the skin. Needle stick injuries are a hazard for people who work with hypodermic syringes and other needle equipment. These injuries can occur at any time when people use, disassemble, or dispose of needles.

Importance of Needle Stick Injury Cases:

Needle stick injuries are a continuous cause of exposure to serious and fatal diseases among your healthcare employees.  But you might not realize how often Needle stick injuries occur or how seriously they can affect your medical staff—physically and emotionally.  At hospitals and other non-acute healthcare facilities nationwide, needle stick injuries (from all needle-bearing devices) add up to more than 600,000 each year.  This number is likely higher, since it is estimated that 50% of all needle stick injuries go unreported—despite hospital protocols.

Objectives:

• To assess the knowledge regarding needle stick injuries and its prevention among nursing students.
• To assess the practices regarding needle stick injuries and its prevention among nursing students.

Conclusion of The Topic:

Needle Stick Injury is an important issue both in evaluation and shaping of health care services, it should be carried out routinely in all aspects of health care services to improve quality services. 

Format of Incident Reporting Form for Needle Stick Injury:

Written by:

Dr. Praveen Bajpai

Director of Ingenious Healthcare Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
Founder of Skill Sathi

MBA in Hospital administration, PG Diploma in Quality Accreditation, PG Diploma in Medico Legal System, M. Phil in Hospital Mgmt. from BITS Pilani, P.hD in Management, Certified NABH Auditor, Certified NABL Auditor, Certified Auditor for Clinical Audits, Green Belt in Six Sigma, Certified in Hospital Infection Control Practices, Certified trainer for International Patient Safety Goals, Certified Auditor for JCI 7th Edition Standards 

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