Occupational Needlestick Injuries in a US Airport

Details

• Personal Author:
  Abelmann A ; Dorevitch S ; Lacey SE ; Zautcke J
• Description:
  Objective: To characterize needlestick injuries (NSIs) among airport workers, and to suggest preventive strategies. Methods: A retrospective chart review (2003-2008) of workers evaluated at a clinic in a large US airport that provides occupational health services. Results: Over a period of 6 years, 14 NSI cases were seen. The majority of injuries occurred while workers cleaned lavatories in the airport or on airplanes. Insulin needles were involved in most cases, and the injuries typically occurred on the hand. No cases of hepatitis B, C, or HIV seroconversion were documented, although follow-up was typically incomplete. Conclusions: The improper disposal of used insulin needles among travelers can result in potential bloodborne pathogen exposure among airport workers. Occupational NSIs have not previously been described among airport workers. A multilevel approach to prevention is recommended. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Blood-Borne Pathogens Body Fluids Environmental Monitoring Hematologic Diseases Needlestick Injuries Occupational Health Safety Transportation
• Keywords:
  Bloodborne-pathogens Body-fluids Exposure-assessment Injury-prevention Needlestick-injuries Transportation-industry Transportation-workers
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  52
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20037328
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2010 May; 52(5):551-554
• Contact Point Address:
  Samuel Dorevitch, MD, MPH, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2121 West Taylor St. (MC 922) Chicago, IL 60612
• Email:
  sdorevit@uic.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:90f5835c1b47db702b36a395951ec84622e96c2fa51023e966ad7821619b6ef05697a39d56fb41103f25ad546e6094557a0836c332600da91ba5dac22bcdbf17
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/188433/cdc_188433_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 103.66 KB ]