Abstract
AbstractIntroductionNeedle-stick injuries (NSIs) are defined as the sharp point of a needle puncturing human skin. This article examines the risk and illustrates the burden of NSIs for workers in the healthcare, veterinary and research industries, and includes a sample survey population of workers in workplaces using needles.MethodsFor the review component of this article, PubMed and Google Scholar were queried within the date range of 1998-2022, retrieving 1,437 results. A publicly available sample population dataset was and analyzed from British Columbia (n=30) on workplace needlestick injuries. The OSHA, WHO, and NIEHS guidelines were reviewed, and the WorkSafe BC injury database was searched using FIPPA requests.DiscussionRecapping remains a common practice despite decades of guidelines recommending against recapping. NSI research is underpowered and underrepresented in non-healthcare settings. NSIs lead to heightened anxiety, depression, and PTSD in workers and exposure to pathogens, toxic chemicals and permanent tissue damage. NSI annual reporting is likely an underestimate due to chronic underreporting, and the financial impact including work-loss and healthcare costs continues to rise. Current NSI prevention devices have limited uptake and thus, more affordable, versatile and efficient NSI-prevention devices are needed.RelevanceDue to COVID-19, healthcare workers are at a higher risk of receiving NSIs. Emphasis on safe needle handling practices is necessary to maintain workers physical and psychological safety, to protect workers using COVID-19 PPE on long shifts, and to deliver the high volume of vaccinations required to inoculate the global population.ConclusionNSIs are detrimental to healthcare workers wellbeing, chronically underreported, and poorly surveyed. Areas of future research include determining more effective solutions to reduce NSIs, assessing the validity of NSI reporting systems, and integrating solutions with COVID-19 prevention and vaccination protocols.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Reference71 articles.
1. World Health Organization [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018 [cited 2021 Oct 4]. Available from: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste
2. Global Prevalence and Device Related Causes of Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis;Ann Glob Health [Internet],2020
3. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety [Internet]. Ontario: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety; 1997 [updated 2021; cited 2021 Oct 15]. Available from: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/needlestick_injuries.html
4. Sharps Injury Prevention Workbook [Internet]. USA: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021 [cited 2021 Oct 3]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/WorkbookComplete.pdf
5. Workers’ compensation claims for needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in Washington State, 1996-2000;Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol [Internet],2005