Frequency of Needlestick and Sharp Injuries, Their Associated Risk Factors and Safety Measures among Healthcare Workers of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) are significant occupational hazards for healthcare workers (HCWs), facilitating the transmission of bloodborne pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis B, and C viruses. Despite known risks, the frequency and associated factors contributing to these injuries in healthcare settings, particularly in developing countries, are not well-documented.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency of NSSIs, identify their associated risk factors, and evaluate the safety measures adopted by HCWs in a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2022 at Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. A total of 250 HCWs, including paramedical staff, doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, participated in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Center of Advanced Studies in Health and Technology research committee and the Head of the Department of Pathology. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect data on demographic characteristics, history of NSSIs, risk factors, and safety measures adopted post-injury. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, employing non-parametric tests due to the non-normal distribution of data.
Results: Among the participants, 76.8% (n=192) reported experiencing NSSIs at least once during their employment. The highest incidence of NSSIs was observed among HCWs aged 26-30 years (31.6%, n=79) and those with 2-7 years of work experience (50.4%, n=126). The most common risk factors for NSSIs were heavy workload (40%) and recapping of needles (22%). Only 38% (n=95) of HCWs reported the incident, and 44% (n=111) were vaccinated against hepatitis B following exposure. Moreover, 58% (n=145) used personal protective equipment, and 73.6% (n=184) utilized safety boxes for sharp waste disposal post-injury.
Conclusion: The study highlights a high prevalence of NSSIs among HCWs, with inadequate reporting and post-exposure prophylaxis. There is a critical need for enhanced training on safe handling of sharps and increased adherence to universal precautions to mitigate the risk of NSSIs in healthcare settings.
Article Details
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Mengistu DA, Tolera ST. Prevalence of occupational exposure to needle-stick injury and associated factors among healthcare workers of developing countries: Systematic review. Journal of Occupational Health. 2020;62(1):e12179.
Sabaa MA, Hassan AM, Abd-Alla AK, Hegazy EE, Amer WH. Needle-stick and sharps injuries: awareness, prevalence and risk factors of a global problem in healthcare workers at Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. 2021:1-11.
Waqar SH, ul Siraj M, Razzaq Z, Malik ZI, Zahid MA. Knowledge, attitude and practices about needle stick injuries in healthcare workers. Pakistan Journal of Medical Research. 2011;50(3):111.
Aslam M, Taj T, Ali A, Mirza W, Ali H, Dar MI, et al. Needle stick injuries among health care workers of public sector tertiary care hospitals of Karachi. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. 2010;20(3):150.
Jahangiri M, Rostamabadi A, Hoboubi N, Tadayon N, Soleimani A. Needle stick injuries and their related safety measures among nurses in a university hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Safety and health at work. 2016;7(1):72-7.
Wicker S, Jung J, Allwinn R, Gottschalk R, Rabenau HF. Prevalence and prevention of needlestick injuries among health care workers in a German university hospital. International archives of occupational and environmental health. 2008;81(3):347-54.
Prüss‐Üstün A, Rapiti E, Hutin Y. Estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to contaminated sharps injuries among health‐care workers. American journal of industrial medicine. 2005;48(6):482-90.
Talaat M, Kandeel A, El-Shoubary W, Bodenschatz C, Khairy I, Oun S, et al. Occupational exposure to needlestick injuries and hepatitis B vaccination coverage among health care workers in Egypt. American journal of infection control. 2003;31(8):469-74.
Organization WH, Network SIG. Injection Safety: First Do No Harm. Geneva: WHO. 2001.
Ghanei Gheshlagh R, Aslani M, Shabani F, Dalvand S, Parizad N. Prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries in the healthcare workers of Iranian hospitals: an updated meta-analysis. Environmental health and preventive medicine. 2018;23(1):1-11.
Balouchi A, Shahdadi H, Ahmadidarrehsima S, Rafiemanesh H. The frequency, causes and prevention of needlestick injuries in nurses of Kerman: A cross-sectional study. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR. 2015;9(12):DC13.
Muralidhar S, Kumar Singh P, Jain R, Malhotra M, Bala M. Needle stick injuries among health care workers in a tertiary care hospital of India. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2010;131(3):405.
Sardesai RV, Gaurkar SP, Sardesai VR, Sardesai VV. Awareness of needle-stick injuries among health-care workers in a tertiary health-care center. Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS. 2018;39(2):107.
Abalkhail A, Kabir R, Elmosaad YM, Alwashmi AS, Alhumaydhi FA, Alslamah T, et al. Needle-Stick and Sharp Injuries among Hospital Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(10):6342.
Atmaja IKW, Wirawan IMA, Suarjana IK. Risk Factors of Needlestick and Sharp Injuries among Health Care Workers at Sanglah Tertiary Hospital. Jurnal Berkala Epidemiologi. 2021;9(1):36-43.
Alfulayw KH, Al-Otaibi ST, Alqahtani HA. Factors associated with needlestick injuries among healthcare workers: implications for prevention. BMC Health Services Research. 2021;21(1):1-8.
Askarian M, Malekmakan L. The prevalence of needle stick injuries in medical, dental, nursing and midwifery students at the university teaching hospitals of Shiraz, Iran. Indian journal of medical sciences. 2006;60(6):227-32.
Sultana A. Needle stick/sharp injuries in health care workers. Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College. 2014;18(1):133-5.
Siddique K, Mirza S, Tauqir SF, Anwar I, Malik AZ. Knowledge attitude and practices regarding needle stick injuries amongst healthcare providers. Pakistan J Surg. 2008;24(4):243-8.
Control CfD, Prevention. Overview: Risks and prevention of sharps injuries in healthcare personnel. Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program,” available at. 2004.
Mercier C. Reducing the incidence of sharps injuries. British Journal of Nursing. 1994;3(17):897-901.
Gillen M, McNary J, Lewis J, Davis M, Boyd A, Schuller M, et al. Sharps-related injuries in California healthcare facilities: pilot study results from the Sharps Injury Surveillance Registry. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2003;24(2):113-21.
Zafar A, Aslam N, Nasir N, Meraj R, Mehraj V. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care workers regarding needle stick injuries at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association. 2008;58(2):57.
CDC A. Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Update: Universal Precautions for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings MMWR 37 (24); 377-388 Publication date: 06/24/1988. 1988.
Gershon RR, Karkashian C, Felknor S. Universal precautions: an update. Heart and lung. 1994;23(4):352-8.