Background Laboratory staff handling blood or biological samples are at risk for accidental injury or exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations for laboratory staff can minimize these risks. Objective The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of occupational exposure to needle stick injuries (NSIs) and assess HBV vaccination coverage among clinical laboratory staff in Sana’a, Yemen. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinical laboratory staff who were involved in handling and processing laboratory samples at the main public and private clinical laboratories in Sana’a. Data collection was done using a semistructured questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts. Part 1 included information on sociodemographic characteristics of participants. Part 2 included information on the availability of the personal protective equipment in the laboratories, such as lab coats and gloves. Part 3 included questions about the history of injury during work in the laboratory and the vaccination status for HBV. Results A total of 219/362 (60%) participants had been accidentally injured while working in the laboratory. Of those, 14.6% (32/219) had been injured during the last 3 months preceding the data collection. Receiving the biosafety manual was significantly associated with lower risk of injury. Out of those who were injured, 54.8% (120/219) had received first aid. About three-quarters of respondents reported that they had been vaccinated against HBV. The vaccination against HBV was significantly higher among laboratory staff who were working at private laboratories (P=.01), who had postgraduate degrees (P=.005), and who received the biosafety manual (P=.03). Conclusions Occupational exposure to NSI is still a major problem among laboratory staff in public and private laboratories in Sana’a, Yemen. The high incidence of injuries among laboratory staff and the low rate of receiving first aid in laboratories combined with low vaccination coverage indicates that all laboratory staff are at risk of exposure to HBV. Therefore, strengthening supervision, legalizing HBV vaccinations for all laboratory staff, and optimizing laboratory practices regarding the management of sharps can minimize risks and prerequisites in Yemen.

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of laboratory standard precautions (LSP) among laboratory staff working in Yemen clinical laboratories. A cross-sectional study was conducted among all laboratory staff in main public and private laboratories between September and October 2015. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. A total of 362 participants had filled the study questionnaire with a response rate of 94%. Of the private and public laboratory staff, 67% and 32% had received training on biosafety (P < .001), respectively. Only 18% of respondents had received the biosafety manual (49% in private laboratories and 11% in public laboratories, P < .001). Overall, only 38% of respondents had good knowledge of LSP, 49% had fair knowledge, and 13% had poor knowledge. Only 32% of respondents had good practice of LSP, 59% had fair practice level, and 9% had poor practice. In conclusion, this study showed fair to poor biosafety knowledge and practices among laboratory staff as well as weak commitment to biosafety policies as reflected by low percentage of laboratory staff who received a biosafety manual and training. This finding underlines the need to strengthen the biosafety program and policies in laboratories in Yemen.

BACKGROUND Laboratories staff (LS) handling blood or biological samples are at risk for accidental injury or exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination of LS can minimize these risks. T OBJECTIVE he aims of this study was to determine the prevalence of occupational exposure to needle stick injuries (NSI) and assess hepatitis B vaccination coverage among clinical laboratories staff in Sana’a, Yemen. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinical LS who were involved in handling and processing laboratories’ samples at the main public and private clinical laboratories at Sana’a Capital. Data collection was done using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts. Part 1 included information on socio-demographic characteristics of participants. Part 2 included information on the availability of the personal protective equipment in the laboratories such as lab coats and gloves. Part 3 included questions about the history of injury during work in the laboratory and the vaccination status for HBV. RESULTS A total of 219 (60%) had been accidentally injured while working in the laboratory (Table 3). Of those, 15% had been injured during the last three months preceding the data collection. Only receiving biosafety manual was significantly associated with lower risk of injury. Out of those who were injured, 55% had received first aid. About three quarters of respondents reported that they had been vaccinated against HBV. The vaccination against HBV was significantly higher among laboratory staff who were working at private laboratories, had postgraduate degree, who have experience > 10 years and who received the biosafety manual. CONCLUSIONS Occupational exposure to NSI is still a major problem among laboratory staff in public and private laboratories in Sana’a capital, Yemen. The high incidence of injuries among laboratory staff and the poor receiving first aid in laboratories together with low vaccination coverage indicate that all laboratory staff are at risk of exposure to HBV. Therefore, strengthening supervision, legalizations of HBV vaccination for all laboratory staff in, and optimal laboratory staff in practices regarding the management of sharps can minimize risks and prerequisites in Yemen.