Characterisation of occupational blood and body fluid exposures beyond the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Green-McKenzie J ; McCarthy RB ; Shofer FS
• Description:
  Objective: To describe the use of mandated safety engineered sharps devices (SESDs) and personal protective equipment in healthcare workers (HCWs) with occupational body fluid exposures (BFE) since the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Methods: Two questionnaires were administered, over 3 years, to HCWs who reported sharps or splash BFEs. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were used. Results: Of the 498 questionnaires completed, nurses completed 262 (53%), house staff 155 (32 %), technicians 63 (13%) and phlebotomists 11 (2%). Four (1%) completers reported 'other' and three (1%) reported unknown. Sharps injuries accounted for 349 (70%) of the BFEs. SESDs were utilised 43% (128/299) of the time with a 54% (70/130) activation rate. Phlebotomists (80%; 8/10) and nurses (59%; 79/267) used SESDs more than doctors (27%; 31/86) and technicians (26%; 10/39) (P <0.0001). Fifty-four percent (185/207) of HCWs reported having had training on SESD use; nurses (64%; 98/154) and phlebotomists (70%; 7/8) significantly more so than house staff (44%; 59/133) and technicians (44%; 21/48) (P <0.05). Most splash BFEs were to the eyes 73% (91/149). Five percent (4/79) of HCWs used protective eyewear. Conclusions: Systematic regular training, appropriate protocols and iteratively providing the safest SESDs based on HCW experience and technological advances will further reduce the physical and emotional toll of BFEs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Body Fluids Communicable Diseases Health Personnel Hematologic Diseases Needlestick Injuries Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Infectious Diseases; Standard Precautions; Needlestick Safety Prevention Act; Body Fluid Exposures; Healthcare Personnel; Bloodborne Pathogens; Safety Engineered Sharps Devices; Occupational Injuries; Safety Devices; Occupational Safety And Health Administration; OSHA Safety Engineering; Sharps; Health Care Workers; Needlestick Injuries; Body Fluids; Nurses; Physicians; Personal Protective Equipment; PPE; Infection Prevention; Bloodborne Diseases;
• ISSN:
  1757-1782
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Pennsylvania ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  226-232
• Volume:
  17
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065302
• Citation:
  J Infect Prev 2016 Sep; 17(5):226-232
• Contact Point Address:
  Judith Green-McKenzie, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce Street, Ground Silverstein, Philadelphia, PA 19105, USA
• Email:
  Judith.mckenzie@uphs.upenn.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Infection Prevention
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2dcb380017832fe26d2349423fd695437c8cfa3682cd28ea66b21d5b666a6c18e095c9d6d45876e47f7fdb2d161ce6453111adf4bd25c79f31cf471fee1bd2ec
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248775/cdc_248775_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 717.67 KB ]