European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NEEDLE STICK INJURY IN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS - A HOSPITAL BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Snehkiran Raghuvanshi*, Dr. Snehkiran Raghuvanshi, Sunit Kumar Kurel, Neetu Singh, Suneet Singh, Shivanjali Raghuvanshi, Srishti Srivastava

ABSTRACT

Occupational accidents are common in any area of work, including hospitals. Practices that control or prevent transmission of infection help to protect clients and health care workers from diseases. Clients in all health care setting are at risk for acquiring infection because of exposure to number and types of diseases. Health care workers can protect themselves from contact with infectious material or exposure to communicable diseases by having knowledge of the infectious process and appropriate barrier protection.[1] One of the most potentially hazardous procedure that health care personnel face is using and disposing of needles and sharps. A needle stick injury is a penetration of skin by a needle point, but probably also by other piercing instruments.[2] These problems are a common event in the healthcare environment. These injuries also commonly occur during drawing blood, medication administering, needle recapping and during surgery.[3] Needle stick injuries present a major risk for infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and HIV.[4] Sharps include syringe, needle, scalpels, broken glass and other objects contaminated with blood form a source of infection. Health care workers (HCW) worldwide are especially exposed to injury by sharp instruments in the course of their duty. Exposures to sharp injuries and their consequences are highly preventable through simple interventions. Every percutaneous needlestick and sharps injury carries a risk of infection from blood borne pathogens. Yet, these exposures often have been considered “part of the job.” Health care workers primarily are exposed to these pathogens via contaminated needle stick and sharps injuries. Hence, it is important that we should fully understand these risks.[5]

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