Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Among Resident Physicians

Abstract

Needlestick and other sharps injuries (NSI) are an important occupational hazard, and approximately 600 000 to 800 000 NSI events were reported annually in US hospital settings as of 1999. 1 These events carry risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission, as well as psychosocial and financial burdens. The cost associated with an NSI could range from $500 to $3000 (as of 2000), depending on the treatment provided. 2 Protecting health care workers against NSIs is an important component of workplace safety, and resident physicians are among those at risk. Physicians in training, particularly surgical residents, frequently report NSIs. 3 Current epidemiology reports of NSIs among resident physicians are predominantly from survey-based studies. In contrast, studies sourcing data from occupational health offices are few in number and have small sample sizes. 4 This study reviews reported NSIs to more comprehensively evaluate differences in NSI incidence rates among house staff across medical and surgical specialties. To develop targeted approaches to NSI prevention, we evaluated the influence of the academic calendar by calculating rates of NSIs per month.

Characteristics of needlestick and sharps injuries of the hands in the operating room among orthopedic surgeons in Japan

“…A study reported that surgeons are more likely to report needlestick injuries compared to non-surgeons 5) . In addition to orthopedic surgeons, dentists, obstetrics and gynecologists, plastic surgeons and urologists were more likely to incur injuries compared to physicians in internal medicine and emergency medicine 5,16,17) . In an obstetrics and gynecology survey 18) , 57.1% (315/552) experienced the most recent NSI during cesarean section, which was mainly inflicted by someone else (72.4%; 228/315).…”

“…Studies in the USA and Canada shows a high risk of needlestick injuries among orthopedic surgeons 5,16) . As orthopedic surgeons are greatly exposed to sharp operating tools, suture needles, and fatigue due to long operating hours, they are likely to be at risk of the injuries involving needlestick.…”

Sharps Safety

“…6 Dedicated sharps injuryprevention education sessions that address the need for expedited reporting and treatment and streamlined reporting processes for needlestick and sharps injuries may encourage consistent reporting and lead to improved workplace safety. 5 Some researchers suggest that educational interventions regarding sharps safety can reduce the incidence of sharps injury and increase reporting of injuries; [7][8][9] however, results of a Cochrane systematic review with meta-analysis show that these improvements tend to be small and short-lived. 8 The AORN "Guideline for sharps safety" 1 provides comprehensive recommendations that perioperative teams can implement to reduce the risk of sharps injury in the perioperative setting.…”

“…In the perioperative setting, the prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries among medical students and surgical residents who are beginning their clinical experiences has been significant. [5][6][7] In 2020, researchers surveyed 138 surgical residents at one US hospital and found that 68 (49%) had experienced at least one needlestick or sharps injury; the reporting rates for the injuries ranged from 64% for orthopedic surgery residents to 100% for urology and oral-maxillofacial surgery residents. 5 When responding to a question on why they did not report needlestick and sharps injuries, the most common reasons were associated with the amount of nonpatient-care time required for paperwork completion and injury evaluation and treatment.…”

Workplace Hazards in Orthopaedic Surgery Training: A Nationwide Resident Survey Involving Sharps-related Injuries

“…The incidence, risk factors, and prevention of needlestick and sharps injuries have been heavily explored for healthcare professionals and trainees of different specialties. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] For all surgeons in training, 83% reported a needlestick injury. 12 Surgical trainees have been shown to be three times more likely to incur injuries than nonsurgical trainees, with orthopaedic surgery residents being 12 times more likely than the safest specialty, emergency medicine.…”