In:
ASU Arbeitsmedizin Sozialmedizin Umweltmedizin, Alfons W. Gentner Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Vol. 2020, No. 04 ( 2020-04-01), p. 241-250
Abstract:
Needlestick injuries among employees and students in a German university hospital Background: The risk of needlestick injuries (NSI) and subsequent infection by blood-borne pathogens, particularly for hepatitis B, C and the human immunodeficiency virus, is unevenly distributed among health care workers. Objectives: Identification of risk groups for NSI with potentially infectious body fluids through detailed subgroup analyses. Methods: Retrospective study at a German university hospital from 2010 to 2014. Standardised checklists were used to collect data on the injured person, accident location/time, circumstances, type of injury/contamination, potentially infectious body fluid and index patient. Deviations in both absolute and relative frequencies were examined by means of contingency analysis, Fisher’s exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: NSI with potentially infectious body fluids are frequent occupational accidents with an average incidence of one per day in a German university hospital with about 4,400 employees. Particularly at risk are employees in the operational subjects, disinfection/sterilization, midwives and perfusionists. A low vaccination rate for hepatitis B (54.1%) was found among dental students. Conclusions: In addition to regular re-evaluations of the working conditions of all employees and students, in-depth evaluations of working conditions should be carried out in the at-risk occupational groups - in spite of low numbers in some groups - in order to identify possible countermeasures and to continuously reduce the risk of NSI. Based on overall high hepatitis B vaccination rates, the working conditions can be regarded as safe, subject to low numbers of unreported cases. Nevertheless, occupational groups (such as dentistry students) with low immunization rates should be better informed about occupationally indicated vaccinations. Keywords: needlestick injury – blood contact – infection – contamination – prevention
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0944-6052
DOI:
10.17147/asu-2004-10051
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Alfons W. Gentner Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Publication Date:
2020
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