Factors Affecting Occupational Exposure to Needlestick and Sharps Injuries among Dentists in Taiwan: A Nationwide Survey

Abstract

Background Although the risks of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) for dentists are well recognized, most papers published only described the frequency of occupational exposure to NSIs. Less has been reported assessing factors contributing to exposure to NSIs. The purpose of this study was to update the epidemiology of NSIs among dentists in Taiwan and identify factors affecting NSIs in order to find preventive strategies. Methodology/Principal Findings A nationwide survey was conducted in dentists at 60 hospitals and 340 clinics in Taiwan. The survey included questions about factors supposedly affecting exposure to NSIs, such as dentist and facility characteristics, knowledge and attitudes about infectious diseases, and practices related to infection control. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between risk factors and exposure to NSIs. In total, 434 (74.8%) of 580 dentists returned the survey questionnaires, and 100 (23.0%) reported that they had experienced more than one NSI per week. Our data showed that the risk of occupational NSIs is similarly heightened by an older age (odds ratio [OR], 3.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62–6.25), more years in practice (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.41–4.69), working in clinics (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.08–2.77), exhibiting less compliance with infection-control procedures (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.04–3.18), having insufficient knowledge of blood-borne pathogens (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.04–2.67), and being more worried about being infected by blood-borne pathogens (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.05–3.13). Conclusions/Significance High rates of NSIs and low compliance with infection-control procedures highly contribute to the chance of acquiring a blood-borne pathogen infection and threaten occupational safety. This study reveals the possible affecting factors and helps in designing prevention strategies for occupational exposure to NSIs.

Biossegurança aplicada à Odontologia na Universidade Federal do Pará, Cidade de Belém, Estado do Pará, Brasil

“…Em outra universidade do País, registraram-se casos em que os materiais não foram esterilizados ou desinfectados -destacando-se os posicionadores radiográficos, bandejas metálicas, gaze e escovas de Robinson -e aproximadamente 4% dos cirurgiões-dentistas pesquisados por autores estrangeiros declararam não esterilizar todos os seus instrumentais, o que é um dado de alerta 21,22 .…”

“…Diante disso, ainda é insatisfatório que, ao final do curso, nem todos os alunos estejam imunizados contra essa patologia. Nessa dimensão, outros autores observaram o índice para estudantes de Odontologia de diversas regiões do Brasil e o mesmo variou de 38% a 99% de vacinados, como também variou o índice para dentistas de 74% a 100% 9,11,14,19,20,22,25 .…”

Incidence of Needle Stick and Sharps Injuries Among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Hospital, Saudi Arabia

“…Due to NSIs, the risk of infections varies from 0.2-0.5% for HIV to 3-10% for HCV while it is 40% for HBV (Cheng et al, 2012). Although needles and other contaminated sharps should not be bent, recapped, or removed, many studies have revealed that recapping being still common among HCWs (Lee et al, 2005).…”

Preliminary Evidence Supports Modification of Retraction Technique to Prevent Needlestick Injuries

“…[4][5][6][7] In numerous studies of dental exposures, sticks with dental anesthetic needles account for the highest proportion of all types of exposures. 2,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] More specifically, the hand retracting mucosa is the most likely hand to endure the injury. [13][14][15] Traditionally, the scientific literature describes the use of the finger of the nondominant hand to retract the mucosa and reveal the injection site during delivery of a dental injection.…”