Contributing factors in percutaneous injuries amongst the healthcare workers of the Gozo General Hospital

Abstract

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. (USCDC) estimates that each year there are over 385,000 needle stick and other sharps related injuries are sustained by hospital based healthcare personnel: an average of 1000 sharps injuries per day (CDC, 2008). It has been estimated that 28 sharps injuries occur annually for every 100 occupied hospital beds (Perry, Parker & Jagger, 2009). In the United States there are between 600,000 and 800,000 exposures to blood per year (Department of Labour- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USDOL-OSHA, 2001) these include NSIs and other exposures to blood. It has been calculated that in America from 1985 to 1999 there were around 136 cases of work related HIV cases amongst HCW's. The major cause of these infections is hollow bore needles. (NIOSH, 2003) In Malta the categories of the staff injured were as follows: During 2012; 28 in Doctors category, 136 in Nurses category, 5 in cleaning category and 15 from those classified as others. An increase in injury notification in nursing has occurred compared to last 2 years. This study however found that in the Gozo General Hospital the incidence of a NSI is of 18% in the HCWs interviewed, but 32.7% of the nurses interviewed. This is unsurprising, nursing is the profession that contacts sharps the most and is the leading sector of the employees at most hospitals (CDC, 2008). Incidence was next highest in nursing aids (6%) and physicians (5%), reflecting the reality of the exposure to sharps in the Hospital. The percentages show that those professions who have the highest patent contact have a higher incidence of injuries. It is clear from the results of the study that the training received by the HCW' s is not being given on a regular basis, regardless of grade employee training is essential for the prevention of NSI. The policy was also found to be not easily obtainable. The challenge to Infection Control Unit is clear, the implementation of an updated policy which is user friendly and readily available to all. Other challenges are the types of devices which have a determining factor that is leading to NSI's, the incidence of under reporting of NSI and the strengthening of safe work practices and raised awareness of the consequences of NSI The old saying that "Prevention is better that the cure is very true with regards to NSI's"